nightmares

he wakes up covered in sweat

she smooths the hair back from his brow

do you want to talk about it?

he shakes his head

his chest is streaked with sweat

she places her hand over his heart

talk to me

please

he looks at her with veiled eyes

distrust and longing and fear

he falls into her shoulder

burrows his face her neck

and he tells her the tragedy of his life

that now when he is more broken then ever

he wants to love more than ever before