I bought you flowers

"I bought you flowers!"

I lay them on your table,

After spending long hours,

To prove you are able,

Able to support yourself and your kin,

Ignoring the void you feel within.

You wear a mask of laughter, though the tears slip beneath,

A mask of strength, though the cracks betray what’s concealed,

You whisper 'I'm fine,' a lie so soft,

The truth trembles in your eyes, yet stays locked,

Beneath the words, the silence screams,

A shattered soul, lost in its dreams.

I sit beside you, fevered and weak,

Running so far, leaving yourself behind,

Chasing the world in endless streaks,

"If I keep going it will all be worthwhile",

So you keep pushing forward through the pain,

But how much longer till there is no more to gain?

The weight of the world drags you further still,

Chasing dreams that vanish, against your will.

You lose sight of peace, caught in the chase,

Forgetting the warmth in your own embrace.

"I bought you flowers."

I lay them on the quiet earth,

Rest, my love, let the world fade away,

And find yourself where silence will stay.