The battleground was silent,

not from peace,

but from the absence of war.

I laid down my weapons too soon,

not because I wanted to,

but because I feared

what victory might demand of me.

Now, the ground is littered

with the wreckage of unsaid words,

apologies turned to ash,

and the echo of your withdrawing footsteps

still rings in my ears.

I wish I had fought for you,

but my hands were too busy

building walls

eventually to see the bridge collapse.

~V