You smelled different when I kissed you tonight,
A sort of sterile smell,
Sweet but foreign.
Your cries and your feet swollen with pain.
Your hunger is gone, at least mostly so.
Your eyes betray you
They share the secrets you’ve never told
They speak about the pain you’ve tried to hide
And they tell anyone who is listening about your broken spirit.
You’re living for us
And we for you.
We fake a smile and kiss you softly while our minds trail off in thoughts of never touching you again.
You are not gone yet
But we have quietly begun the procession.