Tearing Her Heart.

Heartbeats once rushed past windows.
Now she has had to draw the curtains
over them. Then, there is that dark door:
Locked with brutal finality after departure.

Today and yesterday and tomorrow
She spends time and kneels there,
Where he used to tell her to kneel:
By that locked and shuttered room.

Here she waits, implausibly needy,
Every morning, afternoon and night,
Remembering how she used to drop
In a heartbeat if and when he instructed.  

Her lowered gaze followed his finger
To land on the floor, where he pointed.  
Others may be there now. Fear, regret
And loss might be amongst them too.

And she feels it deeply, but she always
Dismisses these sentiments. Some shake
Lightly and tearfully; but she knows
Longing overrides fear, regret and loss.

Others are never him. They never can or
will be him. She fears and regrets, but never
Longs to lose hold, because come what may
She will never, ever tear her heart away.