When?

When?

When did your smile

Start costing so much?

When?

When did a word,

Just one word,

Start requiring such labor?

When?

When did those scars

Start becoming so frequent?

When?

When did the gold necklace

Get so easily,

Every so slightly,

Get replaced by a noose?

When did the light

Cast such long shadows?

When?

When did your eyes

Start looking so sunken?

When?

When did you stop

Waiting for my call?

When?

When did you stop

Wearing that colorful dress,

The one that I got you?

When?

When did the sight of me,

Start filling you with dread?

When?

When did the peacock

Suddenly become a raven?

When?

When did life

Become death?

Why?

Now that I am gone,

Why do you miss me?

You do, don’t you?

But don’t you worry,

My dear,

Even as life,

Showed you the worst,

Worst in me,

The worst of me,

I was slowly drawn,

To you,

With you,

In you.

You hated me,

Now you can’t live,

Without me,

I am your shadow.