you carry all your weight-
tightly stretched across your face,
like evidence or proof that everything aged you
i measured steady breaths
(afraid of truth, or of being rebuked),
“what horrible things cling to you?”
i did not expect to get an answer at all
or for your to let your guard down
but either a ghost or a sigh escaped you
your color fled, though your resistance would not be moved
you said, “when you have given so much, so little remains.
like a wound that will never heal, all that’s left is to wait”

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