you who brought her to the doctor
and signed for her packages
so that her parents wouldn’t berate her
for expensive spending habits
once told me, she asked if you were in love with her
and you said no
but from then on,
it was push and pull
an isolation from other friends
this twenty-something
she had seen the color of your heart
found the pen to scribble over it
like a child vandalizing her belongings
THIS IS MINE
and still you persisted
even as you told me
where we would eat
what we would watch
what we would do
until one day I said no
and you fell silent
love or friendship
we are human beings
and not things to be used or tossed
or pulverized to fill
the gaps of other people’s wounds
RED GLADIOLA 
I haven’t been writing for a while, but I came back and just saw this. Love it!
I was about to write the same thing. Thank you for such a timely- however later from your actual post- reminder. Thank you