Between Bruises & Blooms

You turned into
the thing
you were taught
to fear.

And somehow
that was not
the cruelest part.

Because she stayed.

Of course
she stayed.

Violet has always
loved like
the world could end
tomorrow.

Maybe she knew
it would.

So you married her.

Put forever
around her finger

while something
dark
was already pulling
at your veins.

And for one
brief,
terrible moment,

I believed
love might be enough.

That maybe
after everything—

the parapet,
the dragons,
the war,
the lies,
the blood—

you two had finally
earned
something gentle.

Then you left.

Of course
you fucking left.

Not because
you stopped loving her.

That would have
been easier.

You left
because you loved her
enough
to be afraid
of what staying
might do.

And there are
few things crueler

than being loved
by someone
who believes
their absence
is safer
than their arms.

So now
she has a husband

and a ghost.

A promise

and an empty place.

A ring
that says forever

on the hand
of a woman
waiting
for someone
who decided
loving her
meant leaving.