Communi Damnum (Shared Loss)

A tap at the window.

Has he returned?
Although I feel the safety
of another’s arms
as we sway and lightly dance
in one spot,
my eyes shift ever so slightly
to the tinted window of our tent.
Remnants of shouting
and wisps of frustrated eyes
cloud my mind again.
I think my grip must tighten,
for my friend reassuringly squeezes back.
My gaze meets his,
and we both feel the absence,
the hollow echo,
the empty pain.
Will it always be this way?

Another tap.

This time, his green eyes quickly glance
to the window,
the raw emotions in his face
screaming for recognition.
He’s lost so much,
and I can’t imagine
how much more
he is to lose
in the everyday battles.
My muscles strain to smile,
to show some sort of hope.
He softly laughs in response,
a dead and anguished sound.

There’s another… and another…

I cannot bear to look again,
and neither can he.
Our dancing has stopped;
we grasp each other’s hands
in fear of ever letting go.
As it begins to pour outside,
one can hear the tether to hope
snap
and all we can do is fall into
each other’s embrace,
doing our best to hide the racking sobs
that chain our souls.