Before Fire Took the Last Photograph

I held it like a last breath a moment frozen before everything shattered The photo curled as flames whispered secrets I never knew a face half gone, a truth half shown Not all pictures speak some scream silently and no one dares to ask what burned away There was no storm no broken glass just the slow betrayal of paper and ash Her smile faded first then the corners of her eyes as if even the fire couldn’t bear to see them cry Smoke climbed gently like it knew this memory was too heavy to fall to the floor I smelled lies in the burning ink half a promise left behind in the fire The photograph never blinked but I did and when I opened my eyes it was gone Some memories choose to burn themselves before someone questions what they hide She told me once that not all love is light some love lives only long enough to leave a scar The frame cracked just before the fire kissed it as if time itself refused to hold the truth any longer I stood alone but not cold because fire doesn’t only destroy it teaches And what it taught me was this: the past never disappears it just waits for fire to set it free