She came to him,
an angel of relief.
What she found,
was beyond her belief.
Like nothing she'd ever seen.

"Let me help you to your feet"
she said.
Giving of herself ,
extending her hand.

He looked up,
silent,
wordless,
a broken man.

His stare,
like a junkie,
fresh out of smack.
His eyes,
black,
vacant.
She was frightened,
thrown back,
visibly shaken.

In the darkened room,
his face seemed illuminating,
pale, bloodless,
tracked with tears.

She couldn't bare to watch him,
face his fears.
The past had replaced his soul,
with deathly dispair.

So she turned away,
drained, empty,
disillusioned.

He caressed his pain,
and once again,
embraced his seclusion.