you can feel it inside of you.
your heart sinks low,
your lungs gasp for air,
your stomach topples over itself
over
and over
again.

you can feel it around you.
the air feels dryer
the rooms feels bigger
the people feel distant,
like they are here
but
not.

you can feel it when you sit
at the table in the cafeteria.
or when you are
driving home from work
or when you go
to the cinema
because they aren't beside you
now
like they always
were.

you can feel it when
you’re falling asleep at
three in the morning
curiously wondering
what it would be like
if they were here
again.

you can feel it
with every breath you
take.

you imagine them with you
everywhere you
go.

you imagine what it would be like
if they were here to share
and see
and experience
all that the world
has been offering
you.

the gaping hole in your heart
wants to be filled
but you cannot fill it without
them.

you try to move on
you try to forget
but the absence always still
lingers
and trails behind.