Broken Pieces

he held my hands softly

delicately

and whispered into the night

“I want you”

his words blew in the wind

landing on the tip of my tongue

I smiled sadly back

“You don't want this broken piece of me

you want the whole me with

every piece glued together

fitted together”

his smile fades

“I’ll wait for you”

I shake my head this time

blowing the words through the wind into his lungs into his soul

“no, you won't”

many nights later

I come back

healed

ready to love someone

like they can love me

I hear his breathing

I already know what is coming

his words cut through the air like a knife

“I didn't wait”

I nod my head

for the air is too thick

and my words too weak