Tears of Comfort

He left without clanging symbols.
They exchanged long embraces.
She had been crying.
He couldn't.
He left.

She waved between sobs.
I caught her on the third step.
She had collapsed.
He couldn't.
He left.

His lover and his friend.
She and I.
We cried for him.
He couldn't.
He left.

We found comfort in a bottle.
Comfort in each other's heart.
We drank everything away.
He couldn't.
He left.

We immortalized him with drink.
We talked about the tear.
He didn't know we saw.
He couldn't.
He left.