Throughout our lives, we meet special people we couldn’t imagine living without—but for some, this becomes a reality they must face. The aftermath of a relationship can be difficult to navigate, whether romantic, platonic, or even familial. The reasons behind such endings vary depending on the people involved, but one universal truth remains: the deafening silence we must endure as we learn to live without them.
We spend months, even years, learning every detail about someone—so much so that they become ingrained in our minds. Eventually, these memories begin to haunt us, whether we want them to or not.
In Kalpesh Desai’s poem “Leaving Behind a Piece of Me,” this experience is explored through the perspective of someone leaving behind parts of themselves, expressed beautifully through the five senses—the sound of laughter, the smell and taste of favorite foods, the feeling of a shoulder once leaned on, and the lingering question of whether these fragments are noticed. Yet, upon a second reading, what seems at first like a poem of sweet longing transforms into one of struggle, guilt, and even bitterness.
That laughter sounds just like mine
In the voice you strain to hear.
That shoulder you miss,
When you're afraid,
Or want to shed a tear.
A tinge of regret whenever you hear
All those words misconstrued.
Can't you see?
I've left behind a little piece of me.
In the final stanza, regret echoes—a hint of misunderstanding or harsh words left unresolved. Perhaps this was their last interaction, written from a place of guilt and reflection. The poem’s tone subtly shifts, transforming what once seemed like affectionate remembrance into a haunting acknowledgment of loss and remorse.
Leaving pieces of ourselves behind is an intrinsic part of being human. It serves as proof that we once lived, created, and loved—our personal mark on the world. From sculptures carved in stone to footprints left on the moon, these remnants remind us of our existence. Yet, when the pieces we leave behind are within another person, they become evidence of our emotional impact.
As one thoughtful quote from Tumblr user Viridianmasquerade says:
“I am a mosaic of everyone I’ve ever loved, even for a heartbeat.”
A mosaic is an art form built from many small, colorful fragments forming a larger image. If we view ourselves as mosaics, then every person we’ve met contributes a living piece—whether beautiful or painful. Trying to remove those pieces only leaves the masterpiece incomplete. To deny them is to deny parts of ourselves, for our experiences—both good and bad—shape who we are.
Desai’s poem suggests that the piece left behind is shrouded in guilt, perhaps because the person has changed, and reconciliation is no longer possible. Regret lingers like a ghost, a reminder of what was lost and what could have been.
We must learn to live with our mistakes and grow from them before it’s too late. Every piece we give to others adds to their mosaic—so we must ask ourselves: will the part we leave behind bring them light, or will it haunt them instead?
If it must haunt, let it be a haunting that teaches—a reminder to reflect and change. I, too, have ghosts within my mosaic. I once tried to hide or chase them away, but I’ve learned to accept them as part of who I am. The ghosts of our mistakes cannot be exorcised by apologies alone; they fade only when we truly recognize and transform ourselves.
Let us continue to leave pieces of ourselves that shine brighter with each passing day. Let them illuminate, not darken, the mosaics of others—and when the ghosts linger, let them serve as gentle reminders of how far we’ve come, and how much more beautiful our living mosaic can become.
by Tiffany Melo