An empty room, nothing but silence and, you—
A recurring thought of a distant memory
Where all I felt was misery;
I think I can’t ever forget
The moment our eyes first met
I never knew the sun could fit in hollow windows
And scorch the very being of me
As if to thaw my heart buried deep in snow
Yet I drown into your abyss-like sea.

An empty room, once filled with the distinct scent of you
A few hints of lavender, lilac, and violets too;
Next to you, my long-time love for sunflowers fell short
You exceeded my fondness for every kind, every sort.

An empty room, each corner once etched with your laughter
That resounded so vividly, it continued to linger
You paid an innocent giggle to every lame joke
Gently, the deafening silence within me you broke.
How did those dimpled wrinkles iron out my creases?
How have you calmed the storms I’ve waged for ages?
You made it so easy to be bound under your spell
Each time I struggled against it, to you I was still compelled.

An empty room, back then brimming over with blue
Until the cosmos gave a star to rid it of rue
I found solace in darkness yet in you it found a home
‘Til the clouds nestled angrily; the stars never again shone
Why’d you bust my door just to keep me locked in forever?
How could you break my walls only to build them higher?
You kissed my broken parts and pieced me whole
Then tore millions more out of this empty soul.

This empty room, nothing but silence, and I
Can’t quite recall who I was before I loved you
I take one last look to trace all your salient clues
From what has kept me shackled, I now breakthrough;
It took years to realize I’ve always possessed the key
And I am here, right here—this room was never empty;
This yokel heart you’ve callously shaken: it learned to sway
Now I stand again and finally walk away.

–
Written in 2017 with Ianna Quitayen and Blessie Paeste