She could have heard the sound

from a mile away.

A piercing whisper of something odd

lighting up inside him.

And try, did she ever, to hold onto the small breath of hope

lingering patiently, restlessly inside him.

Panicking, it flailed about—that little light—

in the hope of escaping to something better.

And in his heart, he knew

that she was worth the patience, the restlessness.

She was worth the tick-tock of time running out

as he stared longingly at the world beyond

this tiny, entrapping town

in the middle of Missouri.

She was worth it,

but he couldn’t help himself.

The light was spreading.

Time was ticking.

The world was changing.

He was changing.

Her heartbeat grew rapid,

her head so dizzy.

Why was she so dizzy?

And through the tears threatening to spill over,

she managed to glance his lonely figure

holding a lonely plane ticket.

She knew the light had taken over,

engulfed him.

His restless spirit would never hold her close.

Like the light suppressed inside him,

he knew he needed

to spread

to the ends of the earth.

He needed to experience

all there was to experience.