Wait

I'm swimming.

Only, my legs are motionless, my arms stretched out

infinitely at my sides.

The silence is so deep, so compelling.

I reach for it, without moving, I reach with my soul.

I feel myself slipping, into the silence, into time.

Limitless time.

All at once, it's moving too fast, forcing me back into noise.

Your fingers find mine and twine themselves through, effortless.

The silence fades away completely as you pull me out and into

the screaming grey.

Your eyes are locked on mine, but you don't see me. I look

desperately for myself, but the old warmth is now drenched in pity.

You sigh, your warm breath mingling with the cool night air, and

tickling my frozen cheeks.

The wind whips around us, blowing strands of damp hair across

my face. I don't brush them away.

I'm trapped in your steely, uninterrupted gaze.

Finally, you stand up, breaking the unspoken link between us. I

see you flinch, but only slightly.

I stand too, but your back is turned, your shoulders hunched.

You begin to walk, slowly, but confidently, into the swallowing

unknown that is your future.

Dawn breaks the starry sky, casting tendrils of light

through the deep darkness.

I stumble, falling after you.

Your heart is racing, but you won't turn around, you can't.

I'm on my knees now, with the pressure of the world

closing in around me, holding me firmly to

the ground. I try to lift my head to look at you one last

time, but my heart holds it in place.

"Wait," I whisper.