We Were Married But We Were Lonely
Tear stained pillows every night

We Were Married But We Were Lonely
We were married but we were lonely,
Sleeping inches apart.
The bed held two bodies,
But no warmth.
We spoke about bills,
About school runs and shopping lists.
But not about the ache
That sat quietly between us.
There were no slammed doors,
No dramatic scenes.
Just the slow fading
Of something once bright.
We smiled in photographs,
Stood close for appearances.
But the space behind our eyes
Told a truer story.
I missed you while you were there.
That is the hardest kind of loss.
Watching someone drift away
Without ever leaving the room.
We were married but we were lonely,
Bound by vows and routine.
Two people fulfilling roles,
Instead of holding hands.
And one day we both understood,
Without saying it aloud.
Loneliness inside a marriage
Can be louder than goodbye.

About the Creator
Marie381Uk
I've been writing poetry since the age of fourteen. With pen in hand, I wander through realms unseen. The pen holds power; ink reveals hidden thoughts. A poet may speak truth or weave a tale. You decide. Let pen and ink capture your mind❤️

Comments (2)
Just before I met my wife and got married, I was talking to a coworker friend of mine who was about 40 and divorced. He said that while he loved his wife, things had broken down. "It's bad to be lonely when you're alone. But it's worse to be lonely when you're with someone," he said. As an introvert, it takes a lot for me to get lonely. I get the human interaction I need typically when checking out at the grocery store. But what he said, which is what you've written, has resonated with me for years.
Many will relate. Aging, job stress, parenting, financial stress drive wedges.