Love

A decade gone, a lonely span, Twenty-two years, a solitary man. The echo of betrayal, sharp and deep, Promises broken, secrets they couldn't keep. Each whispered "love," a cunning game, Leaving behind a bitter, burning flame. My heart, a fortress, built so high, To shield itself beneath a cynical sky. I've walked alone, embraced the night, Convinced that love was just a fading light. A cruel mirage, a trick of the mind, Leaving only emptiness behind. Yet, in the quiet, a gentle plea, A yearning for what used to be. A flicker of hope, against the tide, That somewhere true affection might abide. To mend the cracks, to ease the sting, To let a new and hopeful song begin. To risk the fall, to break the wall, And answer true love's gentle call.