Visiting

He planned on moving out This place that held the living dead These halls that magnified the screams His wristband said otherwise Trapped here for life Though it would be a temporary stay In a way You could tell from the state of his mind And the stare of his eyes That he didn't have to wait too much longer To leave these haunted halls He told me how his mother yelled When he was caught sneaking out to the shadows Full name, "Robert!" And I wonder if he wishes to sneak out To disappear into the shadows like he did when he was young A caregiver there to stop him Just not the one who knew his full name No legs to run away on But wheels they gave as a substitute The conversation was absurd But I thanked him for his time He told me that he planned on moving out Glimmering hope in his eyes I smile because he is fragile, I smile because he is sure I smile because I want out of this place too He asks if I'm staying for dinner A leftover mashup from yesterday's planned to perfection meal I tell him I'm only visiting And he says the same I smile because hope is more fragile than bones More fragile than legs taken clean from under us More fragile than the mind that breaks down so easily He smiles too Because he is only a visitor Because he is leaving very soon, he says And there's something so sure in his shaky voice Something so determined in his eyes He assures me that he's moving out So I wish him luck Because Death is his realtor He tells me about the shadows Sneaky things and full names I leave him with the hope that I'll be back tomorrow And I will, just not for him I never knew Robert, nor did he know me I wish I had, wish I could hear his stories Though shaky, he was wise Afterall He told me he was only visiting And visiting he was.