that way

What would happen if he crossed

the line and went to the other side?

At the time, he didn’t think her way

was any better than his. There

were two choices: two different

doors: two unknown worlds

to explore. He had to go his way.

He wished he could have stayed.

Why did this trail split? Why did

he have to pick a side? Is it too late

to change his mind? What has he

been missing? He thinks he knows,

but he keeps the answer to himself.

He can’t be sure that their paths will

cross again. He hopes it’s not a matter

of if but a matter of when.

Before he left, he told her, “Don’t be sad.

When you feel down, look to the blue sky

and realize how far you have

come. Remember the things we did,

the times we had, and the places we’ve been.”

More times than not, he tries to

look through the trees dividing

them, and see her wearing

a smile on her face – feeling proud

of the woman she became.

If he could, he would tell her that

he is doing just fine. Even if she

were able to hear him, she would

see through the lie. He wishes she could tell

him stories about all the things

he’ll never get to see from his better half

that is and will always be missing.

Oh, what a lonely road he chose.

Sometimes, at night, he looks at

the moon and thinks that she

is looking at the same set

of stars that he is. He wonders if she

ever thinks of him and how things used to be.

As he nears the next crossroad,

he reminisces on his past and thinks

about the distance between them.

It took him years to realize that

things will never be the same.

He learned that all the love they shared

was worth every bit of the pain.

It took him a long time to see that losing

her allowed him to find himself

without her help. He leaned on her,

and when he had to go, he lost

stability, but he found a reason to look

within and regain his balance. He went

his way and she went hers. They were

given a choice they wish they didn’t have

to make. He took a chance just like the time

he asked her to dance for the first

time. He chose work, and she

chose play. He chose night, and she

chose day. He chose left, and she chose

right. They have many miles to go –

new places to see. Before all the sand

reaches the bottom of the hourglass,

he hopes that, one day, he gets

to cross her path. He wants nothing

more than to see her again,

not just the shadow she casts.