Against All Odds

It was fire. Brought to life by a single spark. Desire. All consuming, all assuming, and never letting up. We found passion, compassion, forgiveness and joy. We found empathy, and loyalty, and lips that we could taste. We found a dream so lifelike that it felt like we could touch. I found the man I learned to love – and that I’d love too much. We found vices in each other Found triggers in each other Found fear in one another And it wouldn’t let us go. You'd always swear the pills were done. I’d hide the whiskey on my breath. Set aflame with love and lies And it was burning us to death. Life fell apart around us As we were clinging to the dream. I clung a little harder – We were splitting at the seams. We tried so hard to wish it true. That love was just enough To stay inside this fragile world The two of us had built. We built the walls with tears and rage, And sex, and drugs, and hope. Afraid to turn another page for fear the plot had killed us off. I rotted from the inside out. You rotted from the outside in. So afraid to fix ourselves That we ignored a dying love. It was snow. Cold and hollowing. When I laid our love to rest. And beside it I had buried A man I’ve never met. A child I never had A ring I’d never wear A life that was a dream And a love that wasn’t there.