The fractal nature of timeline theories,
Infinite possibilities, splinters and infinite ends.
How did it end up like this?
Give me a flow-by flow of how we all got here.
How that subtle ache still torments my heart,
How "what if" still keeps me up at night.
What if it wasn't you and her?
What if it wasn't me and him?
What if it was us, taking on the world together?
What if that one night changed more than it did,
What if you really heard me when I said it,
That I'd been dreaming of it for so long?
It isn't lost on me that you wanted it engraved.
A permanent piece of me underneath your skin.
Soft-edged crescent moon, and its companion star,
Tucked away behind your flowing hair.
It'll decompose only with the rest of you,
Hopefully somewhere nearby me, too.
The better half of a decade ago our paths crossed,
Blessed with the pleasure of falling for you.
Learning something new about me,
By religiously studying every inch of you.
Growing and modeling myself after your frame,
Hoping to mirror your own favorite traits.
Something like a year ago it got worse,
Or maybe better, in some cruel way.
The lighting changed and suddenly,
I was introduced to hues I'd never seen before.
Ultra-violet on your soft face and hooded eyes,
Infrared flaring up where our skin met.
You say things to me I can't forget
Some form of permanent marker stains my soul,
Doodled hearts and "D+W" in every margin.
You complete me, taking up otherwise empty space,
The distance between us like a nail-bed beneath me.
Thousands of miles, thousands of tiny incisions.
Despite my fantasy, I know our end is doomed.
Sure, I could twist the narrative to fit my mold,
But our routes are paved with different textures,
Yours a free and pleasant gentle breeze,
Mine a sturdy, moss- covered stone.
You're not to be tied down by my brand of rope.
Lingering wonder will make its way into my dreams,
This I know, and am powerless to stop or avoid.
I'm grown and strong enough now to choose peace.
Peace over flight of fancy and powdery hope.
I choose the outcome where you have a chance,
Where you can learn to demand what you need.
We'll scamper on, two lovebirds of different species,
You coo, and I quack in such harmonious chaos.
These hazy, laughter-filled nights spent with you,
Are more than enough to soothe my ruffled feathers.
And I know, no matter where wind or water take us,
The best part of my summers will always be you.
