The Split Between Stars

Two of her,

Made from the same breath,

The same rib-

One heart, one soul-

Split by a single moment, she doesn't even remember.

In one world, she writes a letter she will never send.

Tears land on the page, smearing the ink as she writes:

I have to go away for awhile..

to a place you aren't ready for yet. A place you don't even believe exists,

where peace isn't just a dream-it is felt, it is true.

A place where your smile reaches your eyes, and your pain doesn't make you weak.

A place where slowing down is holy, and your heart your dearest friend-

instead of your worst nightmare.

A place where everyone can fly as soon as they remember...where they left their key.

I tried to help you find yours,

but that's against the rules.

Even thought I could become it..

become your key, you know?

I bent and twisted 'til I ached,

even cut off a few pieces-

and left them all behind.

And then I thought..well maybe,

if I just burned a little brighter-

your cage would melt away.

Well. Now you fear the light,

and I am skin and bones.

She crumbles.

In another,

She stands at the edge of a cliff-

Wings glowing in the moonlight,

She lifts a star into the sky.

She has sent thousands.

This is the only one she has left.

Her hands tremble under the weight-

But she holds steady,

Face calm,

Eyes closed..she whispers, "Please, come home."

She stands tall,

And as the star begins to glow-

She begins to sing.

He lingers.

Halfway between what is and what was-

a single golden thread whispers,

"What if.."

The cage around his heart tightens.

Never could be.

So he stays-

remembering.

Creating just enough space

for the sparkle of her eyes to sneak in,

for the echo of her fingertips to trace across his chest-

so soft, even the shadows begin to glow.

The corner of his mouth begins to turn,

the iron bars begin to melt,

just long enough to make him stumble.

To let him feel.

He can almost hear her,

smell her-

and if he just took one more step..

He shakes his head, backs away, swallows the key.

The shadows regain their strength.

The bars multiply.

She hugs the letter to her chest.

She lets her tears flow freely now.

Her heart rips open wide,

Feeling everything

His heart refused to release.

Like molten lava,

Burning through her soul,

She let's it take all of her-

Until there is nothing left

But ash-

And silence.

She curls around the ache and whispers,

"You're free now."

She shatters.

His eyes are closed now.

Too tired for love, too careful for lust.

Half-danger, Half-grace,

a self-made cage-

for a king of scars-

crowned by teeth and gold.

The star begins to shake,

She knows it could explode-

She takes a breath and lifts it higher-

Slowly letting go.

A single tear rolls down her cheek-

As she whispers once again,

"Please, come home."

A glow beneath his eyelids, a warmth against his skin.

The paper catches flame,

Her hands begin to blister-

Paper turns to ash,

Until there's nothing left to hold.

And somewhere, across the split between stars,

In the space between what is and what could be-

The universe holds its breath.

A part of her will always live,

In that silent hum of waiting-

Bleeding into barren soil,

In hopes-

That roses bloom.

The other half exploded,

A magnificent destruction-

Of everything she knew.

and even if he never says it,

She knows-

he loves her too.