We Were Married But We Were Lonely

We Were Married But We Were Lonely

We were married but we were lonely,

Sleeping inches apart.

The bed held two bodies,

But no warmth.

We spoke about bills,

About school runs and shopping lists.

But not about the ache

That sat quietly between us.

There were no slammed doors,

No dramatic scenes.

Just the slow fading

Of something once bright.

We smiled in photographs,

Stood close for appearances.

But the space behind our eyes

Told a truer story.

I missed you while you were there.

That is the hardest kind of loss.

Watching someone drift away

Without ever leaving the room.

We were married but we were lonely,

Bound by vows and routine.

Two people fulfilling roles,

Instead of holding hands.

And one day we both understood,

Without saying it aloud.

Loneliness inside a marriage

Can be louder than goodbye.