i woke and felt the weight of an immeasurable sadness on my chest or more aptly on my throat because i couldn't choke out the salted word 'stay' fear held its hand over my mouth and i shouted against it 'please. stay. i love you don't leave' 'if you leave you wont come back' so instead i wrapped serpent tight around you wanting you so much closer and hating my ravenous heart for being so gullible so instead i kissed you and knew you must have tasted melancholy on gnawed lips and across my morning bitter tongue i looked into your eyes only once pleading and hungry for the warmth of you and closed my eyes as you greeted the morning you will sleep tonight pushing me away and mumbling incoherent reasons as to why and i curl facing the window awake listening listening and i wonder if you can feel the quake of my doubt and fear in your dreams