the lantern dims, waiting
for sunken footsteps to
pit pat pit pat
across a forgotten path
as we wish the day to end
an alibi not mine
falls over, over, over my face
shielding my eyes from the horror
you know
you bring
you seek
we peek behind the curtain
for a taste of what is beyond,
only to be met with black and dark
and nothing and regret and
fear and nothing and
dark and
black
a breath caught in your throat,
a force enough to knock you to your knees
begging and pleading and bargaining
for a chance at one
more breath
she descends upon you,
black lace whispering at her sides,
moving with a grace too soft to fear,
too intangible to hold
her gaze finds yours.
hollow, yes, but knowing,
as if she has waited
as if she has always known your name
there is no rush in her touch,
only promise,
only quiet inevitability
a beauty not in spite of the end,
but because of it
the bell will toll for all of us, my dear
so hold her close
and beg that she is gentle,
and forgiving.
4/5/26
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