her breath flickers in the wind an icy chill frosting the corners of her eyes unsettled and alone awaiting the touch that will never come asking herself with a passion he could never match even if he wanted to
the only thing he seems to dedicate himself to these days is the suppression of feelings that might open him up to her this makes no sense her heart spends more time on her sleeve than it does in her chest his on the other hand hasn't seen the light of day in years he approaches his shoes are worn through the soles have holes he'll never fix she asks him why one day he considers his response darkly biting chipped nails and nursing a cigarette
they ponder for a moment, lost in the image of the dancing smoke flittering through the wind as he maneuvers a cigarette he was never good at answering hard questions "i never really thought about it" he responds, "why, does it bother you?" she considers for a moment, wondering if now is a good time "yes, a lot about you does." he glances quickly downwards, avoiding her gaze praying the following conversation will evaporate like the smoke seeping into the air "do you love me?" she asks he pauses "i think we both know the answer" his words are lost in the chasm of his throat his eyes giving way to the flood of emotion he's been running from for years "you've wasted my life, why didn't you tell me?" her voice breaks it's over