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.