'What will be' they say...'it is written'. Don't turn around, don't look the other way, don't run...you've already done it countless times. I'm always there. Don't fret, cry if you must, tears soothe the helpless aching. They might even say 'it wasn't meant to be', but no one truly knows; keep fighting. It's endless and it is wearying - be patient, luminous one. If it hurts, it's not over; hold on to your hope - I'll hold you - my sweet, the end is your reward.

Yes, I know you search every time, tirelessly. I'm ever close. I know the price for completion is high, I've seen you fall, and you feel so lost, so often, you can't see yourself anymore. You don't see me. Wait, please, have faith, beautiful one. You've loved - longed - for so long...Can you remember what was before? Don't hide your pain, I know. I will ask the Gods that you be granted your wish - they owe me mine - in all your lives to come.

Nothing ever truly ends. I'll watch over you.

Break my heart and I'll give it to you, free of hidden strings or shadows of regret. It was yours from the beginning, since before it became flesh. You're surprised. Did I steal your victory, cruel one? Defeat never tasted so sweet - ambrosia - on my parched lips, and my mind grows hazy with the heady fragrance of power. It's addictive, my tormentor, and now I understand. I see it swirling in the depths of your eyes - ancient and amber, and it drives you mad with want; it mars your wondrous gaze with storms of black that feed on your desire. It carves you hollow.

I ask nothing of you, don't frown, petulant one. Smoothen your brow, let me share your burden. Lean on me, I'll hold you up. They can't see beyond appearance, my lord, merely skimming over gilded masks. I'll keep you safe. Stand tall, countenance unyielding, and receive your due. I submit.

Keep your light in check, it shines through - mercy is unbecoming. I'll help you overcome your affliction - affection, and I'll strengthen your resolve. Let me. If your path requires sacrifice, I will be your toll. Don't look back - forget - and you'll see ahead. Surely you must know, it is all for you.

I still under your gaze - hollow, a stranger looking back. We meet again - always, between an end and a beginning, in our pursuit of perfection. In the silence of time, as empires rise and fall, we've reached beyond our 'ever after'. It's been too long.

I waver - shatter - with burden of the instants - pieces - of familiar eyes I remember - you. Can't breathe - no air, can't think - too many memories, can't look away - you know. The garments of my mortality were never shed - you see, and you despise - envy - my weakness. Don't reach out - trembling, I can't - won't - cry. My face shifts and settles - breaks - into a smile - empty - unforgiving and bright and you give - me - up. Always the strong one, my nemesis. You failed, my precious.

Victory - defeat - tastes of ashes, it burns my eyes to tears. You crumble and I can't look away - mesmerized - distantly pleased, eerily aching. I'm flawed, beloved.

You haunt me with patience of the predator - cruel and feral, tasting - savoring - the mist of fear swirling in my eyes, clinging to my breath. My promise of eternity - my soul - you ask. I've been waiting - always. I'm weary, my love.

Creature of power and tempest, my torment is soft and gentle - touch cold, my skin engraved - laced - with bright truth - it burns - that I can never see for the veil of my mortality. Don't look away. Watch me taint that which is mine - yours - with all you were forbidden to know, as I unearth everything poisonous and dark - shadows - that my decaying humanity bears and thrives upon, and paint my mask of war: vision - twisted, spirit - conflicted and rage - crimson. I hate you.

You look yet fail to see - pity - distant mirror to my broken reflection. Creature of beauty and light, your gaze is sharp - don't falter - it shreds my dreams - all dust - and I laugh - cry - bitter and harsh and old. You win.

The shiver slithering down my spine tells me that it's time, you're close. I want you to come. Be my first and only wish come true. Trace my steps, the path worn by my words, spread among the winds sent to summon you. Just be here.

I feel cold with every tiny shudder and the whispers grow fierce inside my head - threads of thought without end or beginning, meaning lost. My saving grace - my angel, please - hide your wings from prying eyes, sharp with envy and jagged with the cruelty of broken spirits. Keep your light for all which need redeemed; though all deserving, few are worthy. Don't weep.

There is always hope amidst all the darkness of despair; souls - tainted with guilt, heavy with memories and broken with sadness - strain against their chains, crave it every instant in their eternal torment; they know it's as real as all that binds them to their fate, they believe in its redemption and see it fluttering brightly with glimpses of salvation on its wings. They hang on to the promise of light, breathe it in and shroud their hearts in its golden-silvery, burning strands. It hurts with purity, but it's nothing to their already charred lungs; hope alone is soothing salve to all their wounds and they've waited and wanted for so long. The dark isn't all consuming anymore, as an end to eternity seems possible. Time means nothing.

On the path to my defeat, I brush the ashes of tomorrow, step onto the broken trails and dream my life of bright moments marred and too soon lost.

I mourn the things that can't be changed, all that has been and gone forever; I try to grasp the sands of time - my own mortality urging - in feeble hands that shake with the tremor of tears suppressed and fears to come...

In the darkness behind my eyelids, universes unfold and disperse in minute eternities and die in bursts of light - golden and dusty and warm; destinies are woven and unwound in the expanse of a hummingbird's flutter of wings, and they crash into the nothingness of oblivion. And all things forgotten never were.