As if things never changed.

He stands by the door

and watches over the world

he now calls his own.

With a gaze that never wavers,

he stands still

while everyone else

moves to the rhythm of life.

To protect.

To serve.

To honor.

Sacrifice.

That is my duty.

That is my life,

he thinks.

He reminds himself

that his life is not

his own to keep.

He tries to forget

that one brief moment -

desperately

running from the cold,

towards the warmth

his heart had

long ignored,

trying to reclaim

his dreams,

his life.

Trying

so

hard

not

to

be

alone

anymore.

He tries to ignore

the swirl of pain

and regret.

Tries not to feel

the loss.

The cold, stark

betrayal

that left him

bloodied and dying

on the streets.

He wonders

if it would have been better

if he had died

that night.

And then he remembers.

His life was never his own.

He never lived.

As if things never changed.

He stands by the door

and watches the world

he now calls his own.

With a gaze that never wavers,

he stands still

while everyone else

moves to the rhythm of life.

Except that now,

he sees through

his tears.

And as if things never changed,

no one notices.

The End