Hollow Night

The sensation of observing
someone else’s glimpse of joy
is not always joyous.

Blindsided by your own emotions,
jealousy creeps in
and resentment lingers.

One shuddering breath the only signal,
then come the tears
followed by pain.

Streaking scars burned into cheeks
by your nostalgia
crust over like a freeze after the rain;

leaving evidence of the war within
even though the will to feel
has left your brain.