she started it.

tokens of affection and promises of lifelong loyalty.

soon i started buying her things and it was already over.

the tennis bracelet will survive longer than either of us.

she killed me on a calm night
where i had forgotten any misgivings long ago.

now she has her pride intact again.

a double-win since i always think of her still.

one time we walked down the promenade,
a slight sea haze...

and i asked her if she was having any doubts.

and she assured me, "no".

but that was not to be.
lovers crawled out of the woodwork and harangued me every night.

the arguments i shouted back never held.
until finally i understood her logic.

i scared that beautiful, little, fragile thing.

and taught it "make the punishment 10 times worse than the crime".

i shouldn't have.
or i'd be alive right now.