I used to
crave the warmth
in between fingers and
in between bodies
side by side
hand in hand.

It's a funny way
to trick myself into thinking
that I am not alone.

It's how I trick myself into thinking
that I am half
and can only be whole
with the addition of another half.

But when the cold sets in
and the spaces fill with frost
I realise
we cannot radiate warmth as halves

There will always be a void
of empty nothingness
an abyss of darkness.

I can only bring light into it
with the power of my own light
An internal radiance
of eternal radiance

Only then will I know
two wholes will keep each other warm

**-AA