When My World Went Away

When your happily ever after is cancelled.

When My World Went Away

The word was a mere sound, a distant, muffled hum.
Until the day the words arrived and left our senses numb.
"Malignant," "advanced," "no cure," a whisper sharp and cold,
A future, vibrant, full of dreams, suddenly grew old.

I saw it in your eyes, my love, the flicker, then the dread,
A silent scream that tore through us, unuttered, yet unsaid.
We clung, a shipwrecked pair, upon a stormy, cosmic sea,
Your body shook, a fragile leaf, my soul screamed, "Why not me?"

The initial shock dissolved in tears, a torrent, raw and deep,
For hours, we lay entwined, where only sorrow dared to creep.
No words could bridge the chasm then, no logic could explain,
Just shared despair, a primal ache, a searing, common pain.

We talked of fear, of anger's bite, of future snatched away,
Of plans unmade, of suns unseen, of an ending to our day.
And in those shared, tormented hours, a bond like steel was forged,
A mutual, vulnerable truth, from broken spirits gorged.

But when you slept, exhausted from the weight of all we knew,
I slipped away, into the dark, and let the sorrow brew.
Behind the locked bathroom door, or hidden in the shed,
I'd crumble, silent, to the floor, where only tears were fed.

My shoulders shook, a violent storm, my breath caught in my chest,
A primal wail for what we'd lose, putting my strength to the test.
I'd bite my lip until it bled to stifle out the sound,
For you deserved my steady gaze, on solid, hopeful ground.

You needed strength, a steady hand, a shield against the dread,
And so, I'd wipe my tear-stained face and clear the thoughts I'd bred.
Returning to your side, my love, a steadfast, silent rock,
To face the sunrise, morning light, and every ticking clock.

From that day on, my every breath, my purpose, clear and true,
It was intertwined with every beat of life that coursed through you.
My energy, a boundless stream, flowed only your way,
My time, a gift, without reserve, to fill your brightest day.

The world outside became a blur, a distant, fading sound,
Our small, shared space, our sacred haven, where our life could be found.
I learned to listen with my soul, to every whispered plea,
To anticipate your every need, to just "be free."

Free of the fear, the heavy burden, for even just an hour,
To shield you from the coming storm and nurture every flower.
Of joy that bloomed within your heart, however brief its span,
To be your anchor, your safe port, your ever-faithful man.

We found new rhythms, quiet joys, in moments soft and small,
A morning walks, hand in hand, together through the Fall.
The way the sunlight kissed your hair, a golden, gentle gleam,
Became a masterpiece, a truth, a precious, waking dream.

A shared laugh at a silly show, a comfort in your touch,
A simple meal, a favorite song, meaning infinitely much.
We pressed wildflowers in a book and watched the passing rain,
Each moment magnified, transformed, a balm to ease the pain.

No grand adventures called to us, no distant, foreign shore,
The Universe was in your eyes, and I asked for nothing more.
We knew, with every passing day, the shadows slowly grew,
And so, we consciously embraced the art of seeing through.

The transient nature of "what is," to capture and to hold,
Lest precious slivers of our past should ever turn cold.
We took the camera day by day, and filled its memory card,
With silly faces, tender looks, each moment now unbarred.

From slipping into absence, from the dust of forgotten things,
A visual testament to love and joy that sorrow brings.
We wrote each other notes, not grand, but simple, from the heart,
Of gratitude, of profound love, a brand new, precious art.

Of memory, of wisdom shared, within my very core,
A sacred tapestry of you, forever to adore.
I memorized the light within your eyes, the music of your voice,
The subtle shifts of thought and smile, by everlasting choice.

These countless fragments, small and pure, I gathered, one by one,
To build a fortress in my mind, for when your race was run.
A treasure trove, a guiding star when solitude descends,
To whisper solace, tell your tale, where deep affection lends.

Its quiet strength, its gentle grace, to carry me along,
Reminding me that perfect love is where I truly belong.
These memories, though born of grief, are vibrant, living proof,
That in the face of what must come, our love can stand aloof.

From death's cold grasp, transcending loss, a beacon, ever bright,
A testament to sacred vows and everlasting light.
For in each captured glance and word, each tender, shared embrace,
You live within my beating heart, in time and endless space.


Lines: seventy-six
Stanzas: nineteen