I played more than pawns and rooks  
I played promises,  
people,  
The weight of “if I win, I go.”

The board lay silent;  
The clock thundered in my skull.  
A hand moved where rules forbade,  
and in that hush, fairness snapped.

My fist met the wall,  
blood bloomed on skin  
But deeper still  
Rivers ran for what I’d trusted.

Then she appeared—  
no lectures, no pity—  
just steady eyes  
and words that wove me whole:

“You gave laughter,”  
“You held her hope,”  
“You were sad, yet you brought joy.”

I left without a point.  
But I stood unbroken.

The king fell—  
But I did not.

Some players tally scores.  
others,  
win souls.