You Left

Someone shouts my dead name through the crowd.
I tense and turn around.
I know that voice.
I haven't heard that voice in over two years.
They left me.
They left everyone.
They left for no reason.
Where were you? I ask them.
Why are you asking me this? They ask me.

You've been gone for over two years.

I was busy.

Why couldn't you at least send a text?

I was busy.

You can't just leave and show up years later! You don't even know my name!

I do. It's-

It's not that. It hasn't been for a year.

I didn't know.

No. You didn't. How could you have know?! You left.

You're really pretty. I like the haircut.

Go away.

*pauses* What?

Go away! You can't just show up two years later and act like everything's okay!
You left when my world collapsed.
You left when I attempted suicide!
You left when I came out and got yelled at by my grandparents!
You left when I lost my best friend!
You can't just leave!

They say my dead name. Repeat my dead name as I walk away. Shout my dead name at my back.

THAT ISN'T MY NAME! I scream at them. GO AWAY!

They stare at me before walking away.
The crowd we were standing in parts for a furious child.
For a broken child.
For a scarred child.
For a traumatized child.
For a child who got left two years ago.