I suppose sometimes I just think this is better than nothing.
But I barely recognise him anymore. He's smoking close to 40 a day, I can see he's self-harming again, there's a bottle of vodka beside his bed, and he can tell me it's a coincidence all he wants, he seems to always have a hint of alcohol on his breath. I don't remember the last time I saw him eat a proper meal. The promiscuity has hit an all-time high.
I worry that I'll end up catching something from him, but you know for whatever time we're together, at least I know he isn't out picking someone up, a stranger, someone who could hurt him... I'd rather he got it from me. (But am I destroying myself in the process?)
He seems to just.. look through me most of the time. This man who used to be my best friend... no, no, he IS my best friend, I don't think I could stick around if he wasn't, that man is still in there somewhere, I just don't know how to find him again.
I get hints of it now and then. He'll do something that... makes me remember. A funny text message, a kiss on the cheek, looking at me instead of through me, a smile... and it disappears again, like someone blowing out a candle. I don't know why I love him. That's a horrible thing to say.
I told him I did, and he laughed. "I just wish someone would love me." "I love you." It wasn't a joke, what started out as friendly, joking laughter became something almost... viscious. "I don't want your fucking love." I don't know if that's true, or part of this hideous barrier he's been constructing for god knows how long.
I should never have agreed to this. I shouldn't consent to it time and time again, when I know that it will feel like someone's hollowing out my heart like a pumpkin. Sometimes it seems so loving, like with every touch there's a wave of heat and desire... but more and more now, it's like he's so absent, no connection, there in body, but feeling nothing. My body still yearns for those sweeter times, and doesn't seem to understand where they've gone. My head knows that he could be a lost cause, but my heart... my foolish heart... remembers. |