I hugged you to say goodbye
eight thousand miles
compressed between
our beating hearts

I love you, I said
You said you loved me too
tears already flowing
I just want you to be happy, I whispered

and felt your shoulders stiffen
I kissed your cheek
I’m not blind, I let go
and you went away crying

What did you say to her?
our brother asked
What a sister needs to say, I told him
He nodded and turned away

What will end now
because of this?
Your abusive marriage?
Your relationship with your family?

You are already
so far away from us
even with each visit
you are more “other”

How do these stories end?
Divorce? Death? Reconciliation?
With children who will recount years later
the night I made their mother cry?

It is the beginning of the end
of something
Eight thousand miles apart
our two hearts beating

[Prompt 1: Write a poem about something ending.]