Don’t Give Up On Me

A Poem

Photo by Khoa Võ: https://www.pexels.com/photo/unhappy-thoughtful-teen-girl-arms-crossed-in-rainy-day-5430077/

you head for the door,
and it’s just another morning
where we trade steps
in this world we concocted

but no, something’s different —
I see the change in your eyes —
and your hand goes still on the knob
before you turn and say,

“Don’t you think we’ve gone on long enough?”

and the words hit like a punch,
a KO to leave me senseless,
but you shake your head and leave
before I can give you an answer

what did I do?
where did we go wrong?
why is it so easy to pretend
you’re happy, so happy —

even when it’s a lie?

the words rattle in my brain
like marbles run haywire,
and I think back to everything
that rang so true once upon a time

but you don’t come back by evening
and I’m drowning in worry
because you’ve never done this
and somehow I know —