Natalie Cook

There is something to the ritual

Of setting some old shit on fire

A way of saying this now lives in memory

A way of saying it's only a memory

There's something to the ritual

Of setting a torch to what is gone

The vikings did it to honor a memory

And now we do it to honor who I used to be

Let's say goodbye to Natalie

She was 33

Tonight

Let's say goodbye to Natalie

And her fake IDs

She was imaginary

Which is why we say goodbye to her

And hello to me

This is ridiculous

Why?

I don't see why I have to join your little cremation ceremony

You're the one who made her up

It was a bit more collaborative than you're remembering

All I want right now is the same thing I wanted two weeks ago

The truth

Why did you lie to me?

And why does Natalie Cook exist in the first place?

The person who I was

On the day you and I met

Was deeply ashamed of who she had become

So deeply ashamed of what she'd done

And when you showed her questions

The 36 questions

She looked ahead and saw

Who she wanted to be

She built a past

Made up a history

Details that fit this person named

Natalie

Let's say goodbye to Natalie

She was 33

On her fake IDs

She was real to me

I don't expect

For you to understand perfectly

I loved her, too, as much as you

And she'd want you to bury her with me

Okay

Okay what?

Give me the match

There is something to the ritual

Of setting fire to the lie

A way of saying that's one win for honesty

What's done is done

Tonight

I say goodbye to Natalie

She was 33

Tonight

We say goodbye to Natalie

And her fake IDs

She was imaginary

She was 33

May she rest in peace