I looked into his eyes
And saw a spark.
He smiled.
I smiled back.
It wasn’t love - why don’t they understand?

I looked into her eyes
And felt a chill.
She glared.
I turned away.

He looked into her eyes
And the warmth between them
Melted the ice that only
Grew between us.
He kissed her.
She kissed back
Then tightened her grasp.

Maybe it was one wrong word
One laugh too loud
One touch that lingered a second too long

And the entire thing flew up in smoke.

He teased me.
I teased back.
We laughed.
When was the last time
Friendship had been so simple?

He mentioned me.
She turned against him.
And in the silence
I could hear the shouts
Of their fights.
Meaningless.
Irrational.
Inevitable.

I could only stand there
Slowly scorched by the smoke.

I looked into his eyes
All I could see was
Helpless pity for me.
He had tried.
I only cried.

I looked into her eyes
And was afraid of what I’d see
If they ever met mine.

He looked into her eyes
But I had already turned my back.

I ran
Lungs burning
Breathless
Screaming
Painful.

Among the smoldering ashes

Lies the friendship

That we could have had.