even though you are

distracted

tired

pulled into

yourself

by

memories

and

fears

i can

only guess,

your conversation

feeds my heart.

messages pulsing

on a flickering

screen

read again

and

again

by this

solitary

astronaut

locked

in

earth orbit.

i hear

no--

taste

yes!

and even

inhale the scent of

your voice

in

every

word.

and when you are

silent

i feel like

i am being

slowly

crushed

by the weight

of my own

breath.

i have no reason

to expect

your presence with me

out here

among the silent

stars,

or even

a message, but i

do.  i

cling to

the hope

that my

entire existence

is not just a

dream you

are about to

wake up

from and

never

even

remember.