Mercy Moon

Mercy Moon

I swallowed the smoke,
hoping it would wash you out.

I felt the night
slip under my skin -
a quiet storm curling in my lungs,
a shiver clawing up my throat.

The cold moon clears
the drift of cloud from your eyes,
and for the first time
I can see the horizon disappear -

not in darkness
but in soft silver,
the sky rinsing itself clean
of all the breath we held too long.

So I exhale
to leave you behind
and let the soft light of mercy take me
somewhere you can’t follow.