My chest caves in
when I see your eyes
devoid of hope

I wish I still saw life in you,
I wish I wasn’t waiting for the day that
I get the call that I’ve expected so many times,
I have been pushing the thought out of my head
since I was ten and I saw the scars
"from my cat," you told me

I could be a hypocrite
and tell you not to be so afraid,
tell you to take care of yourself
because people want you around

but I can’t tell you to keep living,
I would never dare ask you not to
give up

not now,
not anymore

just please,
please don’t leave me yet,
I’m afraid
your empty words
still mean everything to me.

- S.G.