Musings

21 - Red Trail

(A/N: This can be both read as a standalone piece or related to 'Red String'.)

It had existed for as long as I remember.
Following behind me wherever I go,
A red trail leading into the abyss.

I understood the fate set upon me,
But for a child who reached for the stars,
No chain was strong enough
To forever anchor me into the earth.

I often dreamt about home
About when I finally return
How there'd be confetti in the air
My likeness found everywhere I looked
Cold gazes that would finally be warm
Maybe even meeting the person
Waiting at the end of the string.

I remember when I first met everyone
Wide smiles, loud laughter, beaming energies.
I introduced myself as the Sun
That gently warmed everyone under my rays,
When really, I planned to scorch them all.
I handed everyone one of my bright smiles,
And when I finally turned to you
And saw how the trail led towards you,
I knew then that my fate
Was lost in the abyss forever.

I always hoped you'd never notice
How we were chained together.
But you did.
And your eyes were like a thousand galaxies
As you showed me the red magic
That bounded us together.
In every fairytale, there was always a skeptic,
And this time, I took the role
I showed it in my warm smile.
All at once, the galaxies collapsed
And the magic was gone.

I passed many years in that place.
And while it did become difficult
To erase those wide smiles
To choke out those loud laughter
To dampen those beaming energies,
I continued to let the red trail grow behind me
For no chain was strong enough
To forever anchor me to them.

Under the stars, you sit beside me
While I sit in a pool of my own making.
I unveil the real person behind image
That you've pursued for years.
"I hate you," you say.
Edge barely touching, ready to cut red.
"Go ahead."
And so you cut.

A red trail led you to me
And now, you have your own.