that first night I slept and you couldn’t
that is where the separation started
the faint blue ember of the curtains 

showing the street lights below

comforted me in a sad sort of way

Rome again

and I could not protect her from the grips even though she lay beside me

the one I loved paced back-and-forth everywhere we walked

we drove each other crazy

she lit candles for me in the churches of my favorite paintings 

I left her

cold at the Pantheon

after she guided me through demonic streets

I’m a horrible friend