The Difference

He looked down at his fingers
                        the ones that had...
                        He pretended not to think
                        as she attempted to speak
                        Intent upon a slight hangnail
                        disturbing his perfect hands
                        He gently pulled at it
                        "It's going to leave a jagged edge"
                        he thought to himself
                        only half listening to her silent heart
                        breaking in the reflection
                        of the car window
                        He could see the silhouette
                        the faintly mirrored outline of the tree
                        the same tree they had...
                        He shuddered to think
                        "Seems taller now, doesn't it?"
                        her voice broke
                        Shifting his aimless thoughts
                        he noticed still
                        even after making up his mind
                        she touched the depths of his soul
                        with a word
                        She could be saying nothing at all
                        and he would still feel her
                        lips forming letters upon his heart
                        words playing songs into his mind
                        laughter like rain on a summer day
                        Her smile could be the sun
                        on an eclipsed world...
                        "Not trying to change you"
                        she cautiously continued
                        interrupting his melting resignation
                        "asking you for anything other than -"
                        her breath caught up to her
                        Their eyes met
                        They both knew
                        and wanted to run back
                        into each other's arms
                        Forget the struggle
                        it's worth it
                        Ignore the doubts
                        they can be overcome
                        He cleared his throat
                        a gruff, hurried sound
                        she did not recognize it as
                        his turning point of deciding to stay
                        with her
                        in her arms
                        inside of her heart
                        where he belonged
                        "Nevermind" she thought aloud
                        "it's no use when someone
                        runs so far just to be away from me.."
                        You're only making it worse
                        "let him hurt you"
                        her thoughts betrayed her
                        There was an unbelievable edge
                        to her usual soft voice
                        "Protection" she defended
                        Sacred ground when crushing
                        my tender heart
                        The one that he had...
                        She trembled to think

                        Leaving him with a kiss
                        just above his brow
                        She rememered his words
                        I could do it again
                        I did it before
                        And he was right
                        The difference
                        she thought to herself
                        as she bit her lip into silence
                        is that I would never want to
                        before
                        again
                        or after
                        So why would you

                        He watched her walk away
                        step after step she fell
                        a little further in sadness
                        He could taste the tears
                        she tried to hide
                        Her confused mind
                        and aching soul
                        wanted to drop to the ground
                        The same ground we had...
                        she looked around
                        through watery vision
                        fresh grass
                        scent of cherry blossoms
                        whisperered promises
                        delicate touches
                        kisses like...
                        She struggled to forget
                        but would never
                        He watched it all
                        and felt it so deeply
                        Wanting to run
                        after his only love
                        bring her back
                        and never let her go
                        He cleared his throat
                        leaned on his pride
                        surrendered to his doubts
                        and began to walk
                        then run
                        away from her