those who wander

i stood there

panic had arisen.
closer we came.
i stood there.

bodies slammed and collided
as they ran wildly
with uncertainty of what to do.
but when it dawned to them
the location of survival
oh,
did they push.

i stood there.
the reflection of tiny images of hundreds
and hundreds
of people gathered at the railings
either to jump
or to paddle
was projected on the pestered
moving waters
for the starry sky to watch.

i stood there.
even as they
shoved
me over
to get to their destination,
their eyes filled with greed
and desperation
for the crave of jewels,
one that was priceless,
one that had the ability
to sell out
death.

i stood there.
the ship was slowly
swallowed by the sea
to where the slope
from the side that sank
was like a slippery slide.

i stood there.
some had barely escaped
on their filled to the brim
paddle boats
that had begun to look smaller
as our distance grew.
some had jumped into
the boundless water
with hope that they wouldn't sink
too.
some clung onto
the boat,
knuckles white,
breaths short,
and fear consumed them
before death could.
some were selfless enough
to give others a hand
and sacrifice themselves
as they faced death
with a bold stance.

i stood there.
water was awfully near,
and chances of me living
were slim.
i had nothing more
to go back to.
my life had been lived
and my purpose fulfilled.

i stood there.
i glanced down at my hands
that had a layer of soft wrinkled skin
from the many years
my old soul had aged,
from the many small adventures
i had went on,
from the many lives
that would be lost
today.

i stood there.
the coolness of the air
gave one last fresh spark
of exhilaration
as it stung my throat with each breath
and poked at my skin with each gust of wind.

i stood there
and stared up at the enchanting stars above.
sprinkles of light
were scattered upon their dark canvas.
they twinkled and shone
and would take never ending nights
to count.
the tiny specks
were mirrored onto the ocean
for us to mesmerizingly watch.

i stood there
for
one
last
time.

this was a beauty that i wanted to be the last thing i see,
but i knew darkness could be the only,
so i let it embrace me.