His face hardened
but his eyes didn't
no matter his unavailing attempts
I could see into him
deep into his eyes
and I understood
why

why
he couldn't let anything on
why
for him the only option
was to watch
as if unaffected by her
leaving.

I was a little hurt too
a lot, if we're being honestly,
for his sake.

“Hey” I managed to squeeze out.
“You get one tear,”
I was still staring at him
“Make it count.”
now he turned to me,
and
I saw firsthand
as his face
crumbled...
shattered
I struggled to keep it together
for his sake.

He finally let that one tear out.
I reached to wipe it
it was hot to the touch.

His whole body
shook
with every breath
crumbled
with every thought.

It angered me
that she did this to him
and pained me
that he let her.

I keep watching everything
from the sideline
when really
I should be feeling first hand.

I should be broken
but I'm not.
He is.
I watch as he pulls
his hood over his head
wearing it as a shield
and
together
we walk away
from the scene of the damage