Pieces of Quiet

I’m fine…

That’s what I keep saying, anyway.

I kept your sweater in the corner,

Still pretending you’ll come back.

I trace the letters of your name

On all the things I should unpack.

I’ve been talking to the silence,

It answers better than you did.

Funny how the truth gets louder

When there’s nothing left to fix.

I try to sleep through the missing,

But the nights don’t let me go.

Every memory keeps insisting

On playing me reruns of “almost.”

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

Where I used to hold your hand.

I still reach for you sometimes—

My heart forgets what my mind understands.

I know time will soften the edges,

But I’m still learning how to breathe.

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

’Til they stop hurting me.

I keep your message thread untouched,

Like turning pages in a book.

If healing had a timeline,

I’d give it every hour it took.

I’m not angry that you left,

Just hurt you didn’t stay.

Some people are meant to teach you

How to lose in a gentler way.

I keep trying to forget you,

But forgetting feels like grief.

You were all the songs I swore

I’d never skip, never delete.

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

Where I used to hold your hand.

I still reach for you sometimes—

My heart forgets what my mind understands.

I know time will soften the edges,

But I’m still learning how to breathe.

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

’Til they stop hurting me.

Maybe someday I’ll smile

Without feeling you fade.

Maybe loving you won’t hurt—

But today’s not that day.

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

But I’m learning how to stand.

Even if I still reach for you—

Someday I won’t have to again.

I know healing takes a moment,

Or maybe two, or maybe three…

I’m holding on to pieces of quiet

While I come back to me.