an ending

two threads that twist
and bind so close
until there is only one
gold rings,
silver bells,
eyes meeting across joined hands
the perfume of a thousand nights
together

no compromise
a siren’s wail
two voices raised
in fire and pain
accusations, lies,
truths that wound the soul
fraying threads
unraveling
becoming two
each less than half of one

scars are thicker than skin
places where fingers catch
poke, bleed,
never whole again