You deserve
and yet it is
painful reminder
dialogue unspoken.

Asterisk mark next to
belief
holding space for
retraction.

I fear for you.
I love you.

Knowing things
aren't so clear
quite blurry actually
taken aback by reality.

Terrified of a potential
as yet unfulfilled
looming.

Staring at you
taunting its own presence
as an absence.

Holding places
in the curves of your
cheeks
the dilated pupils
of your mouth
crevices so deep
still all too
shallow
to see anything
clearly.