Planes roar over us. Through white cloud faces heaving, these mechanical lions tear holes and fly on, becoming small toys in the sky, drifting farther and farther away. Love is made from beginnings. So why does this seem like the end?

Sometimes hugs feel like tombstones, sometimes houses are furnished with sad. And sometimes missing someone is the worst kind of pain. So run me over, crush my 206 bones into fine powder, brand my body, but don’t leave me here alone. Oh, I hate that you’re going. I hate that you’re boarding. And I hate that I can be such a bore. No, I don’t want to hold you back. I just want to hold you. I don’t know how you do it, but you make my past so pretty—

Farewell slides down your cheeks, raining heartache onto my palms. Your tears hit my skin, and sound like birds crashing against windows. Do you know what’s going on inside me? Or am I the only one? I want you to see through me, because I haven’t got the guts to show you my lack of guts, to show you how badly I’m rattling inside, or how much our love hurts. Look at me, I’m made of leaves.

Years ago I was invincible, but now I bleed and bruise daily, hammered and cut by the quilt of your kindness. What have i gotten myself into?

Gone, you vanish through a door, down a ramp, off into space. I crumble within the arms of a blue-suit stranger. He puts his hand on my head, he’s been here before, understands me. I can hear it in his chest. He can hear it in mine. But from miles away in the sky…can you? I close my eyes and in my ears your plane rumbles higher, stealing you away so far. Oh, if I had feathers and wings, I’d chase you right now. I’d lift off and climb, catch up and glide. I’d come for you, come after you, come with you. But I don’t.

Sparrows fallen can’t fly.