I won't be able to move forward
as long as you are there…

I'll continue
—to hurt myself
with high hopes that you'll save me,
as you did when we first shared stares,
as discourse from unruly mouths turn
into white noise and muffled voices
around us—
and I will smile through it all

I would never want to leave 'here'
as long as you are there…

I'll continue
—to hurt myself
using Edward's words in hushed tones,
the same melody you sang in little Rome
about how I reminded you of a place
that you've never been to except
in song—
and I'll endure everything to come

I won't be able to love another
as long as you are there…

I'll continue
—to hurt myself
tenfold, from that time when you
viciously undressed my heart bare
stripping it off of your words that blanketed
it with crimson passion leaving
it dull—
and I will keep you in memory

As long as you are there
I will love…

no one other than you.