By Leighton Tanaka, TIWP Student

Lovely.

Breathe out and watch as the malaise punctures, crimson pouring out to pool in cupped hands. I drink the elixir of mortals as your eyelids gently flutter, a cool serenity washing over your fragile, surrendering body.

I delicately trace shaky fingers down your face as you are jolted awake, gasping and clutching at your chest, before training your rageful gaze on me. Red has stained my pale fingertips, smile as I reach for you once again.

What have you done?

My vision begins to fade as I crawl ever closer, breathing raggedly and laying down beside you, brushing aside strands of hair dampened by sweat and tears from your trembling face.

Rage turns to sorrow. Do you understand as well as I?

For all the time we have spent, locked in an eternal dance, you, always at the edge of mortality, have grown ever wearier. You, always reborn.

I speak to you softly as if soothing the last embers of a dying flame, bidding farewell to my lingering existence, attempting to smile, for the first and last time. But I do not know how, and I plea for absolution.

Hold your hand as the bell chimes, feeling the faint pulse of fleeting life, briefly fret over the scars I etched upon your skin, you sigh, and I shed a tear for my sins.

Forgive me, please let me go, please release me.