you brought me to this place, breathless
alive
excited
showing me the side of you that
no one gets to see

feeling your enthusiasm, wanting to be
included
knowing
I was swept up in expression
letting you see me

smiling, you backed away, fading
shimmering
opaque
and I saw through you
as you walked away

never imagined
   the stirring of fluttered heartbeats inside my soul
   set alight when your voice I hear
each and every time

never imagined
   unbearable pain of just the thought
   of you absent from this world
yet it burns white hot and true

never imagined
   provocative teasing thoughts
   of what could be, but won't be
and we both know it's real

never imagined
   that destiny would arrive
   disguised in your smile and your laughter
seared into my being forever