Ardor No More

     They warned me that one of us would fall for the other, and it was me. My affection, so strong, cripples me. I am too feeble to tell you what harrows my mind. I fear that if I spoke the truth, you would leave me. And I’d rather endure the torture of unrequited ardor than lose you.

     You have been so cruel to me. I don’t exist to you except for in the dark, when it’s just the two of us. Under the radiant sun amidst a crowd of people, dare you not look me in the eye. You avert your gaze or don’t see me at all. I am not part of your world during the waking hour; my name is not associated with yours. Our relations are secret, hidden from the scrutinizing eyes of our peers. And initially, that suited me. I didn’t want anyone to know. But now, I no longer care. I want to obtain you, to be the only recipient of your affection.

     What a fool I was for beginning to see you in a new light. A glittering nimbus encompassed your bronze skin. You were so lovely, so kind. I grew very fond of you and tried to imagine you by my side always, as a romantic companion. And even though my visions didn’t seem plausible, I stubbornly upheld the belief that you were different from the rest. But you aren’t. And you don’t feel the same way I feel about you. And that has destroyed me, rendered me a mess of broken nerves and shattered optimism. 

Photos not taken by me. Click on them to be directed back to the original source.