Her hand was firm around mine —
we had a reason to be together.
I looked into her eyes
and saw myself being seen.
The feeling pierced deeper than thought,
a pull without explanation,
a wanting that doesn’t fade —
tender moments drawing us closer.
There are moments where we surrender
without logic or permission.
Nothing is decided.
It simply happens
as I hold her.
The river runs hard —
water breaking over stone,
always moving away
from where it once was.
I go to where she used to be.
I turn over
and see only her pillow,
her robe on the back of the chair.
The tears come
before I can stop them.
I lay her robe across her side of the bed
and turn toward the wall.
I dream of what is gone.
My hand finds the fabric
as a tear falls onto her pillow.