Once upon a time she said I love you.
He said I love you too.
Both were honest. Love. No stipulations.
Once upon a time he said I love your voice.
She said I wish I could give you more.
I'm sick, you see, and weak.
Once upon a time he whispered sweet things
to a picture of her he kept with him always
in hopes somehow she'd know.
Once upon a time she was well
enough to go to college just long enough
to collapse again before the new semester.
Once upon a time she laid crying
after listening to his words.
Come to me now, or I won't be waiting anymore.
Once upon a time she was afraid of herself.
Afraid of how weak her body had become
and wanted to spare him that.
Once upon a time illness ruled her life
lurking close to self hatred
for it was all she had left once he was gone.
Once upon a time she left home for Florida.
The sunshine and clear air helped her recover.
And she found a new sickness to fill the emptiness.
Once upon a time she danced for five hours
at the concert of a band he'd introduced her to
and she cried when she heard the song he'd called hers.
Once upon a time, shaking and starving by her own doing,
she thought of him somewhere, happy without her.
And though it brought tears she smiled.
Now her smile is as tired as her tiny form
both broken from the time spent trying to be strong
and perfect so he could love her again.
Her eyes still shine with love and loss
whenever his name is mentioned
but she will never see him again.
Once upon a time he read a page in a book
given to him by an old friend of hers
and he knew the truth.
He said I love you too.
Both were honest. Love. No stipulations.
Once upon a time he said I love your voice.
She said I wish I could give you more.
I'm sick, you see, and weak.
Once upon a time he whispered sweet things
to a picture of her he kept with him always
in hopes somehow she'd know.
Once upon a time she was well
enough to go to college just long enough
to collapse again before the new semester.
Once upon a time she laid crying
after listening to his words.
Come to me now, or I won't be waiting anymore.
Once upon a time she was afraid of herself.
Afraid of how weak her body had become
and wanted to spare him that.
Once upon a time illness ruled her life
lurking close to self hatred
for it was all she had left once he was gone.
Once upon a time she left home for Florida.
The sunshine and clear air helped her recover.
And she found a new sickness to fill the emptiness.
Once upon a time she danced for five hours
at the concert of a band he'd introduced her to
and she cried when she heard the song he'd called hers.
Once upon a time, shaking and starving by her own doing,
she thought of him somewhere, happy without her.
And though it brought tears she smiled.
Now her smile is as tired as her tiny form
both broken from the time spent trying to be strong
and perfect so he could love her again.
Her eyes still shine with love and loss
whenever his name is mentioned
but she will never see him again.
Once upon a time he read a page in a book
given to him by an old friend of hers
and he knew the truth.