Breath from those words,

"I had an affair"

Became a whirlwind

Stripped the substance

From my life

And the skin

From my bones

Everything was gone.

Four years.

Love.

Church.

Family.

Health.

Sloughed like dead skin

From a calloused foot 

On a pumice stone.

Yet still

Here I stand.

Happy.

Strong.

You.

My friend.

Sun around you

Shining 

On your skin 

And on

Your hair 

And in 

Your

Dark eyes.

The air cooler.

Fresher 

Because

You are

Breathing.

Beautiful. 

You told me once

Through your tears

You were always 

Addicted.

To a substance

Or to a person

And right then

It was me.

I smiled

And held you

And dried your tears.

But I didn't understand

Until now

What you meant.

Once you were gone

I knew

I was always

Addicted 

To you.

Give me 

One chance.

I will love

More deeply

Than you 

Ever could.

Leave for the beaches

The friends.

The camps.

I am alone.

They return;

I am a stranger.

Alone.

"How was your day?"

She asks.

I open my mouth

And close it again.

No.

This one stays with me.

The notes come.

Not from my mouth

But from somewhere deeper;

Older.

The soles of my feet

Drag them through the earth.

And in my chest

Diamonds rest.

The earth we sing of

Cries out through us.