12365 kilometres,
an ocean and two countries apart-
it may as well be another galaxy,
yet I can feel the warmth of
your smile radiate from
across the globe and I can
still sing along to your heartbeat.
With all this distance,
we are never really alone
when our love
transcends all.

I close my eyes and
summon you into a dream.
Even if it's for a little while,
let's pretend it is real.

December creeps up on us,
and suddenly, I feel unburdened
from all I have carried this year.
No longer stuck, no longer trudging
through the days, weeks, months
I thought would never end.
Time to cleanse my soul of all
the turmoil and ties I do not
wish to carry into the new year.

The hardest part
of the year was having
to say goodbye to you.
I did not want to go,
I did not want to leave.
I wanted to stay forever
where you were no longer
someone in my dreams,
but someone in my life.

The world watches.
They hold their breaths
as the ballots are cast-
a responsibility and gift
not to be taken
for granted.