...The Same Way...

He wants to talk...
...again...
This only occurs...
...when convenient...
...for him...
Or when...
...he's miserable...
...and restless...
...and unsatisfied...
...with the life...
...he settled for...
Or when...
...he has seen...
...me smiling...
...and laughing...
...and genuinely...
...at peace...
Or when...
...he misses...
...my name
...showing up...
...on his phone screen...
I miss you...
...he says...
Of course he does...
...I don't blame him...
...nor do I care...
I love you...
...and I always have...
...he says...
...as he reaches for me...
I pull my arm away...
...I have to go...
...and this is goodbye...
I watch his face...
...turn pale...
 ...as he realizes that...
...I mean it...
He's never heard...
 ...me say that before...
Does he love you...
...he asks...
He does...
That stuns him...
...realizing he's lost control...
But how can you know...
That's easy to answer...
...It's how he looks at me...
How is that...
...he wants to know...
As I get up ...
...to walk away...
...I look at him...
...one last time...
...and say..
...He looks at me...
...the same way...
...I used to...
...look at you.

Breathe...
...Michelle Lynn...