Darling is a word,
smithed for prettier ears.
Eventually, rejection becomes
the familiar hum.

Hope was the thing to be feared.
Possibility  made my breathing shallow.

Turning my back to the moon,
I trained my eyes to ignore
the silver shadows on the black horizon,

Gravity wasn't just keeping me grounded,
it was keeping me safe,
from floating off into unknown space.

"We can't protect you, where we have not been", my Past selves whispered.

At least I think that is what they whispered.
I was preoccupied,
While they whimpered,
I was letting go.