The way you left

You didn’t leave all at once.

It was in the small things first-

The quiet pauses that stretched too long,

The way your laughter stopped reaching your eyes,

The way your hands felt like strangers

When they touched me.

You left in the way you said goodnight

Without saying my name.

In the way your kisses

Became a habit, not a feeling.

In the way your silence

Became louder than your love ever was.

And maybe I should have known-

That love doesn’t always end in flames.

Sometimes it fades,

Like a song you once loved

But forgot the words to.

But still, I waited.

Waited for you to turn back,

To fight,

To stay.

But you left so softly,

I almost didn’t notice

Until you were already gone.

And now here I am,

Holding the echo of your name

Like it’s something I can still keep.

But you’re not coming back, are you?