#marbearwrites

"I miss you"

But in poetry, we say:

Slipping back into the shadows

In the dead of night

Lanterns aglow

As they tirelessly search

I wish you had let me be a child

Instead of expecting me to be an adult

Now I struggle to function

In the "real" world

A thousand steps

Walking hand in hand with Death

Time loses all meaning

We talk of work and the weather

But not of the waiting

He tells me

"You are more than capable of handling this when the time comes."

His words aren't comforting

His hand is warm in mine

As we circle back around the empty field

We take in the small-town scenery

"If I trade my life for his, would it make things easier?"

His smile lasts a second

But His dark eyes seem sad

For me

"No, my dear, this is not how death works. We must go when I arrive to collect."

The sun is warm on my face

Cold winds sneak through my layers

I shiver during this frigid winter season

Death halts mid-walk

Wraps me in his black cloak

Gently pats me on my back

Wiping at my falling tears

As my head droops towards my feet

His arms hold up the ragged me

To keep me from crumbling

I am not like other young women

They run to embrace love

Yet I hold back

And flee from

This feeling of passion

For I have walls up

That are not easy to destroy

Or to peer inside

And I wonder when

A man will stay

To show me love

Is not something to fear

Or to hate

Smells of 18-year-old you

It brings a smile to my face

Yet the dull ache returns in my chest

To know we haven't seen each other in 11 years

Soon to be 12

I'm not sure if you're ignoring my texts

Or if you do not care

Mom told me you're out on the streets

I never thought you'd end up there

Funny how family breaks and splinters