I've seen the constellations across your arms
And I know the stories they tell
I thought I saw Cassiopeia the other day
But I guess I was wrong

Tracks
Not the kind left by gulls at the beach
Or dogs with wet paws
These were left by hard times and desperate measures
I wish I could wipe them away
But they aren't so easily undone

You weren't looking for salvation
Just an escape
By the faraway look in your eyes
I guess you found it

I just wonder what you'll do
When your retreat becomes a prison

I think it speaks volumes
That when I felt like falling apart
And you asked what was wrong
I felt the need to cover up
With a physical ailment

Every message
Is just a collection of words
And all words are made up
Of the same 26 letters
So why is it
That some of them
Have the power to heal
And some are like daggers?

People seem to think
That I spend most of my time
Alone
But that isn't quite true
I have a constant companion
In the form of crippling self doubt
In guilt, anxiety, and a hollow resignation

People seem to think
That I spend most of my time
Alone
If only that were the case.

I think I'm doing pretty well
At hiding how it hurt
That even though
We haven't been together in months
You made plans with someone else
On the day that was supposed to be mine

We used to be so close
Where did all this distance come from?

A picture of your dog
With the caption
"Are you doing anything this weekend?"

As trivial as it seems
No message has ever given me
More hope