Poets Corner

Descent

By Alexandria J. Eliason

Her Part

Put down my bag, hang up my coat

The silence is eerie as I begin the descent

Towards the room where you and I lie

I should by now be ale to hear your breathing

You should by now be sleeping

Walk past the photographs

They mock me with their happiness

Make a stop at the first door on the right

Strip down to my skin, turn on the water to hot

Postponing the event

Wash my skin, brush my teeth, towel in hair

Robe around, feet bare

I continue towards the door

Hand on knob, heart in throat, breath is gone, tears in eyes, fear in mind

The handle turns, the door opens

The room is silent, I call your name

But no response, tears down face, hate this place

Clothes in drawer, bed is cold, empty

Open top drawer, pull out ring slip on finger, still not comfortable

Out of bed in the closet, grab a shirt pair of pants

Lay them beside me

Fall asleep to the lullaby of my cries

Fall asleep wrapped in your old clothes

There all I have left now that you've gone

His Part

Hang up my coat, slip off my shoes

I can hear the hum of the fan from the room where you and I lie

Stop at first door on the right

Strip down, warm water down my back

Mop up the mess, begin the decent

Switch off the light, walk out the door

By now I should hear you breathing

But instead a sort of faint screaming

Started as a walk, turned into a run

Hand on knob, heart in throat

Throw door open

Screams have turned to moans

As I eye my angel

Curled up in a ball

Tossing and turning she calls out my name

Caught in a dream I shake her awake

"Love" I say. Hush her cries, tell her it will be okay

"A nightmare" she whimpers.

Crawl on the left side, the right is hers

Hold her the way I've only held her

Kiss her forehead, warm her body

The trembling subsides soon hushed breathing

I lay awake holding my life

Grasping knowing in an instant she could be gone

I say a silent prayer, and my heart breaks as she turns to her side

Breathes in deeply and drifts away to a deep sleep

My wife I sigh, My wife and her nightmares.