our goodbyes
were spilled 

gently 

through 
eternal pauses
shattered syllables 
and between breaths 
screaming of weakness

voices achingly wavered 
some cruel balance of an
immeasurable yearning
and the bitter traces
of deep regret that
we must unravel 

and so we clung
to ideals held full of
unspoken declarations 
and memories never made

sharing silent tears in the
deafening stillness until
our last words fell
delicately laced

with lust 

for the love 
that we should have become