Ask me to Stay

I sat in shock for a good hour
after saying the ugly words I said
that tore out of my heart
where they had lived and spread
for too many years

my ring did pirouettes
on the worn coffee table
as I listened to the harsh
ticking of the clock you bought
when we vacationed in the South Seas

I watched the door you had stormed through
and
                  - waited.

I didn't cry when I reached into the closet
and found the suitcase that we had shared
when we were still in college      and young
so very young

I heard the clicking of the lock
just as I finished packing
and something inside told me
I had planned it just to see you one last time

but when I saw you look at me
I knew I'd never leave with my heart

and when I walked slowly towards the open door
your eyes looked at me in a sad way I hadn't seen before
and I prayed that you would bar my way
and hold me tight
and never let me go

but as I finally reached the door, you moved out of the way
and that was when it hit me that you wouldn't ask me not to go
tears fell from tired eyes as I walked out the door

I didn't want to leave but a woman has her pride
and while I may have been wrong
my fears were justified
when you let me walk out of the door

I was half-way to the cab
when the city lights all blurred
and I couldn't breathe and couldn't move

It was then I heard a voice behind me
and one
              little
                           word.

Stay