Trauma

 I have seen in the eyes of a child the worry of the man he will be.

So I hid my papers

erased all clues

and little by little

waited for the ground to hit.

"Is that so important?"

"Where is the joy in that?"

She repeated.

"It does not alter the fact that you fell in love with me."

"It does not change a thing"

"Your slow motion limbo"

"Your delayed asphyxiation"

"Where is your strength?"

I never give up.  Never stop trying.

I repeated.

Its all I have

I looked at her imploringly.

"Maybe you should"

She suggested, considering, but did not meet my gaze

even for old times sake.