they are searching for recognition in the fear of the night.
“look into my eyes.
     do you see my desperation,
my need for hope and love?”
     they ask, grabbing at everything they can
to pull themselves back up onto something they can call stable.
     each level of their being is cracked,
breaking down slowly until only rubble and wishes are left.
     one by one,
their friends leave,
     their pieces of laughter trailing behind
like the wants that are so often forgotten by them
     until only the two are left, side by side.
their trust is so deep, so old
     that even the mountains cannot understand the foundations laying there.
they hold hands, looking into the night, fearless.
     “we will conquer this fear,
this loneliness,
     this anger,
and we will triumph in the end.
     We shall live a dauntless life,
an adventurous time.
     Together forever.”
Strong and beautiful.
     Eternity