the night sky seemed to fall on our shoulders.
the stars tearing holes in our clothes.

i saw your eyes in the gloom of the low branches of a tree, above me,
teeth gleaming ferally in the emerald dim-light deep-dream atmosphere,
but i’m not sure if it was you or a wolf that widened the grin and
ground out, “welcome home, my love.”

just the forest floor underfoot as we wove through the trees.
almost a well-rehearsed dance with love and death.

but i tripped on your gasps and you fell to the ground,
and suddenly the words i spoke fell like rocks into the deep sea.
sinking, and sinking and i wasn't sure they’d ever settle.

you aren’t aware that i stopped breathing.
just me and you and the absence of the light.