the door to his room moans open.
a shadow familiar and sad
like the cold, raining night, whispers,
"Jack, are you awake?"her voice startles him.
"can't sleep again?"
Jack shifts in the chair,
"yeah, I'm awake. i can sleep alright."
he stands, and as he walks to the shadow,
"I want to climb a high mountain
through snow and ice
and never be found."
"a heart that's empty hurts. I miss you, Jack."
"i'm glad someone does. i miss you too."
"you forgot something our last night.
I didn't know it was goodbye."
"what did i forget?"
the shadow moves towards him.
jack slips his arms around her waist.
"you didn't kiss me goodbye."
she puts her arms around his neck.
her lips are soft and warm
and like a summer night, the warmth of her body
comes to him through the coldness of the room.
the shadow raises her head
looks into his eyes as distant
as a sailor tossed on a violent shore,
"why jack, you're crying."
"yeah, i'm crying."
her lips are soft against his ear.
"don't cry, my darlin.
i can't bear to see unhappy.
if you love me. tell me you love me."
he is looking down into her dark eyes,
and softly whispers. "I love you. I do."
"Hold me jack, hold me."
"i'll never let you go..."
...jack probes the snow bridge
with his ice axe. the bridge collapses,
day becomes night
and he is falling, falling,
falling...
startled jack opens his eyes,
jumps out of the chair.