Never Left

You’ve never left.

I see you standing there

In front of me in my mind.

My eyes burn

My heart aches

My hands shake

As I light this cigarette

To try and mute the senses.

I am sick of seeing your disembodied face.

I am tired of hearing your whispered voice.

I’m fed up with feeling your phantom touch

Skim across my skin.

Stay out of my head,

Stay out of my dreams,

Why won’t you just leave?

Why won’t I?

Nothing seems to break this,

Not distance, not time,

Because you’ve never left.

But neither have I.