Mourning's Light

You look out at the reflection of the sun

through the still waters of the lake

the sun is setting behind the gentle darkening mountains

The sky recedes from yellow

to orange

to red

gently hinting a shade of violet and blue

The clouds

once gentle shades of off-white

are now turning into darker shades of gray

A chilling breeze brushes past you

disturbing the water at your feet

you slide your hands up your arms

touching the soft cotton fabric against you

How long have I been standing here?

You turn your head

He's here now.

his slick black hair glows lightly

the moon peeps against the clouds in the darkening sky

The water glistens as the last bit of the sun's light disappears

He walks towards you silently, gliding across the soft mud.

You reach for him as he reaches for you and the space between you two disappears.

You lace your fragile fingers in between his rough and calloused fingers.

Your left-hand grasps the warm gentle texture of his red and black boxy plaid shirt

I loved this shirt.

The sun is gone now

and the only thing lighting your view

is the reflection of the moon

and its soft glow against the stilled water of the lake

You could stay here forever

But I can't.

The sand at your feet

Becomes the socks you pulled off

In your doze

The breeze that you felt so gentle and pure

Was the circulation of air

Coming from your fan above you

And the realization

That the man you longed for

Waited for on the lakeside beach

Has been gone for years

But something feels different

Something feels warm

Your room is empty

But his presence is with you

You can still feel his touch

Like the comfort of a soft glow

Emitting from a burning fire

He was here

But at the same moment

You know he wasn’t

And another day

Without him

Begins.