Vital

when she leaves

The morning started off silent, as I recall it

Only the sound of spoons scraping the bottom of bowls

The sun peaked in through the curtains that were ripped -

and the clock stopped working, so we always had the time wrong

And she wiped her mouth with her sweater sleeve -

before whispering, "I can't believe I have to leave"

I almost kept searching for the right words in my spoon,

but somehow I said this, "So, you'll be staying in your old room?"

She slightly grins, now leaning back in her chair

It makes a small scream, and I can't help but think -

How can an object with no wear or tear

plead, as if it knows she will leave?

Does it know? Could it possibly know what will happen?

Does it know how I will really feel?

Can it tell by the way my foot is nervously tappin'?

It must know that my heart's gone still

For when she leaves, my words make their leave too

My mind falls to pieces and my heart asks for a redo

Every language ceases to exist, every wish drowned by fear

Every breath I take is shallow, and I keep breaking mirrors

It's hard to explain what's happening, and why things are what they are -

but just know that I'm an astronomer and she's the brightest star

Now my star is falling, much like the pieces of my heart that stay loyal to my chest

Will I live without her? I guess I must try my best

For when she leaves, the last rose starts to wilt

Art starts to die, and even sociopaths start to feel guilt

My black pen goes missing, I forget my favorite songs

- and all my answers turn out wrong

That night as I crawled into bed, almost like I'd break,

I looked out my window and gazed at all the stars

I named the constellations and couldn't help but pray

God, tell me, does a star fall too far?