You lay beside me,
Fingertips caressing
The edge of my hair.
Your ***** whisper
Intoxicates the whole of me.

I inhale your scent,
Perfume mingled with
The taste of your skin,
And have need of nothing more
Than your closeness;
Body, breath, and beating heart,
Always beside me.

Gasping awake
I view our room;
Dark.
And your place beside me;
Empty, cold, and still made.

I swallow hard
To choke down my cries
Forcing my wails to stay
Deep inside my gut.
And I shut my eyes
To imprison rebellious tears.

I try to plunge back to sleep
Back into the memories,
Those specters living in my dreams,
Where you are still
Beside me.