Consuming Nightmare

Storm clouds loomed

So high that I should not

Have felt

Quite so disturbed.

But a quiet, eerie tingle of fright

Sat somewhere unknown.

Was it in the pit of my stomach,

The bottom of my heart,

Or the base of my throat?

Alone I stood with my thoughts,

Toes buried in the sand,

Facing an angry sea

That mirrored the troubled sky.

And against every element

And every dark omen

That should have urged me

To reconsider, I walked

Towards the luring water.

As the my feet left dry sand

Only one thing was clear.

It was certainly not the sky

Nor the sea

Not even the path to my certain

Destruction, for this sand was flecked

And flawed, every granule

Lost amongst the masses.

My decision held the clarity.

But startled, I awoke

And as I opened my eyes

To the morning rays

And my ears to nothing

But the gentle clink

Of a teaspoon against a saucer

Your familiar scent,

Waves of vanilla and lily,

Were the only ones to wash over me.

Our eyes locked and I saw

That same cloud ridden sky

And you knew.

A sad and slow sigh

Climbed from your chest

And as your soft palm

And electric fingertips

Caressed my left cheekbone,

I think my heart broke.

Miniature waterfalls

Cascaded down your cheeks

And met at your chin while

A quivering lip moved only

Enough to say

“I cannot save you.

I thought once that I could,

But all I have is love.

And that is not enough.

“Though it may be eternal

And unrivaled and sincere,

I cannot save you,

My darling,

From yourself.

And try as you might

To resist the luring depths,

I do not know if you will ever

Reach the surface.”