It became as natural as breathing
after all, there are only a few words to say how I felt
well, three to be exact
and so it became part of my everyday
part our conversations
part of us
which is why I wonder
where it all went

for something so abundant
to be lost in an instant--
it shouldn’t be normal
it shouldn’t happen
but it did
over and over again
slowly diminishing
...everything.

Still, I can’t understand
how it all just slid out
from under my grip
wine to water, leaking from my fist
splattering the ground
nothing but a stain to remain
and that vague memory

of when it was natural
when it was real
when your arms could close out the world
for just that moment when you held me tight
and it felt like you would never let go

But I guess I caught my breath
traded words for pride
and just walked
ran away from what we had
and right into
this.