The poet lives two lives.
One on the outside,
And one in their mind.

When you look in their eyes
You could see an abyss.

If you looked long enough
You could sink into it.

But most people don’t see it.

Take the time to read the words, though,
And you would know for sure.

The poet lives in two different worlds.

I need your heart
I need your presence
And all that aches within me
Is the lack of you
The lack of your scent
The lack of your soft skin
Your absence breaks me
It splits me in half and rips me to shreds
I’m missing a piece shaped like you
Shaped like the way you curl up when you’re cold
Shaped like your messy morning hair
Shaped like the electricity between two souls
Yours and mine
Heart to heart
Together forever
Even if miles apart.

I feel the panic awaken in me
Like a tidal wave in my lungs
And a ticking clock in my heart
But then you pull me closer to your chest
And I remember
I am safe in your arms
You’re a sanctuary
A shelter from the storm
And wherever we are
I know that when I’m with you
I will always be home.

The pain is real
The pumpkins feel
When all their seeds
The bumpkins steal

And,
Just like that,
It was October again.
It felt
A little colder,
A little darker,
And a lot less like you.