the world was broken.

it was once a land of encrusted pearls

on the backs of ancient humpbacks

leaping from ivory piano keys

and dancing to the song that sprang from her heart.

but her heart was silent now.

she wandered through darkened stairwells

she waded through burning shadows

that held no substance.

for it was not only her that was empty

the world was empty too.

she had lost something,

she had lost what made her human

but she didn't know what humanity was.

but one day, she emerged from darkness.

she found a clandestine kingdom

of rose tinted glass and crystal chrysanthemums

and exploding stars and moondust.

but most importantly, she found love.

he did not give her blood stained roses

but instead sunlit marigolds.

he did not promise eternity,

but cherished every moment that was now.

and through him, she found what was lost.

but first, she lost herself.

(again)

she looked into his eyes and wandered

through galaxies of his soul

climbing in and out of black holes until

she found what she was looking for.

so she danced back through the cosmos

spinning through supernovas and swirling nebulas

until she came back home.

and she was whole again.

and she emerged from his soul like a butterfly

the world glitching as it transitioned between space and time

because in his eyes,

she had found herself.

and she was finally human again.