The Tragedy of a Pedestal

He was a dark and handsome stranger---

but not too handsome

in fact, I didn't see him at first

see him for what he was---

or would be

And one night---

when our breaths were proof of the icing

he drew his face close to mine

there---

in the attic

And all was right---

the creases around our eyes folded together

only for one another

He was my protector---

the keeper of my every---

but we were diseased with a fear of boredom and disappointment

with the misunderstanding of empathy

and chalk full of profound regrets seeping through the better part---

of a decade

of my decade

And it was all that---

and more---

that was cloaked with an unnatural yearning for aging and great expectations

But there were emerald valleys waving their index fingers

and I was merely walking through his shadows