He knew he must continue
If he was to ever be released
From this miserable place
This miserable existence
Approaching the next door
He refused to lift his head
To see what horror
His life had waiting for him
Behind this entrance
To his past
So without fore knowledge
He stepped through
And raised his eyes
To a sun kissed hue
The world around him
Appeared the color of sunset
On the breeze
He detected the faint tang
Of sea salt and moisture
He was near the ocean
The shoreline came into focus
The soft sand, the gently rolling waves
The beauty of an early summer evening
One made for lovers
Just like the two he saw walking his way
Still quite a distance from him
Yet he knew without a doubt
The two were young lovers
Still trying, testing the waters out
Beginnings of love and deep friendship
As only soul mates can share
A visible tangible thing between them
It seemed to hover in the air
He had never again felt the contentment
The assuredness
That he had felt at her side
He was a boy, becoming a man
Born out of hell
But in her hands, he was perfection
Made true, complete
He turned toward the horizon
Not wanting to witness the happiness
The bliss
Knowing as he does, that it is short lived
It will not last as long as it should
As it could
If the fates were kinder
But he knew in his heart, that again in his life
Tragedy would strike one more time
To snatch away his beloved, to tear out his soul
And leave him incomplete
once more un-whole
with closed eyes
he stood there in the waning sun
soaked up the feeling
of love and happiness
that came from each one
and hoped that it would last until he saw her again
when he is called home,
his journey at its end
he turned and walked away
for the first time leaving behind
all that they were
and all they could have been
as the doorway closed behind him
he smiled a sad smile
her name a whisper in the stillness
of this vast corridor
he moves on with a warmth
in his heart, in his soul
that has been missing for too long.