* * *

he fixed on her pensive glistering eyes but would utter naught he wondered at how she exalted him all his vices yet belittled him all his virtues if she was no longer who once she was and they were together forever to be one flesh who was he now?

her love became words his words became letters the swollen space between let rivers run widespread over vast empty pages she said what he wanted to hear he heard what she wanted to say mutual affection was now the subject and the object language having lost its lilting light

she was seated in the corner where he never stood staring at him she saw a rotting trunk felled to the floor no trace of recognition a lifetime of fact become an epitaph of opinion he held his breath the sound of his silence broken with a glance saying if you wish to then yes