A New Shade of Bitter

The scent of bacon overwhelms the urge to stay wrapped up in dreams,
warm and safe like the vague notion that this could be forever.

Fast-forward to the slammed door and the stinging tears
because tragedy has always been more of an interesting read.
Hope is illusive and these pages read a new shade of bitter.

The crackle of the fire and the feeling of cool sand as I lay there
staring into your eyes, wondering where this might lead.

Listen to all the emotions no longer felt, emitted from overused speakers.
It’s the pretenses that keep us sane. The same pretenses that drove us together
and the same pretenses you chose to leave by.
It’s the pretenses that keep us sane, and I’m not done pretending.

The smell of hot chocolate on cold winter nights lulling me to sleep,
secure and content with the warmth of your body next to mine.

I trusted you blindly, foolishly, but always wholly;
and now I’m drowning in self-indulged bottles, trying to remember the taste of oxygen.