Do me a favor
She asks
As if there's even an answer to that
She said, “Go find a woman who will treat you well”
“My heart breaks in two to see you love me”
And with that she left while he was sleeping
Down from our house and across the street
She didn't take much with her
Only an old mason jar and her boots and scarf
The clothes on her back and a sack full of knick knacks
Across the pier to a small old rowboat she bought with her own dime
And across the ocean she went
Far away from him
So far she couldn't remember if his eyes were brown or blue
When she knew him
She lived in a lighthouse now
It was free as long as she held it down
It was a peaceful life,
A lonely life
She dreamt of him most nights
Like the image of his smile was burned into her eyes by every lick of candlelight
Vividly
She could still hear the dumb snort sound he made when he laughed too hard
And she smiled
Not because her heart didn't ache, no definitely not that
She smiled because although in doing so she predisposed her heart to daily break
She smiled because he had no doubt found a happier life
That he had moved on
Because who was she to hold to man like that
To her, it was just a simple fact
It's been too many years since her boat ride
She didn't really know where she was
She just rowed and rowed and rowed until his scent had finally left her nose
She's older now, her bones creak almost as much as the lighthouse floorboards
She loved looking out from the top of that heavenly tower
Out across the ocean while the rain lightly showered
She thought about where he might be
She thought about his eyes, she didn't remember what they looked like
It was cold tonight
Foggy even
But she felt warm
She felt happy
Because this time when she closed her eyes she could see the image of him burned in the back of her mind so bright that she could swear he was really there
With a smile that was labeled “Handle with care”
And eyes that said “I’ve missed you”
And “I’m so glad you're here”
Because he looked like he’s held her close even after all these years
Like the only thing he had after she left was empty promises and worn out fears
She knew what had happened, she was no fool
She had passed on and he had too
But his heart was heavy and hers strangely light
She thought back to why she left that night
She couldn’t remember why
And no matter how hard she tried the words wouldn’t come for her to apologize
He just sat there and stared at the pleading look she held in her eyes
He nodded his head and turned the other cheek
And said, “This life, is not the one you clearly need, what you wanted was never me.”
The strange and muffled silence hung over them, like someone muted a silent film
She faded further and couldn’t see his face
Like he was just another beautiful stranger on a summer day
He just drifted away, like she had to him that day