dawn breaks slowly

quietly

inching forward

as if

it dares not disturb the night

like a lover dares not disturb

the one he loves

while she is sleeping

he climbs into bed

slowly

and pulls the covers 

around her

so that she is warm

and he selflessly gives

himself to her

and she never notices

how his eyes are the color of coal

and wrought with pain

and how sometimes

when she isn't looking

a tear slides down his cheek

but she doesn't pay attention

and he wakes up in the morning

and brushes his teeth

and looks into the mirror 

and cannot recognize himself

but he knows

that she is his better half

and he loves her

but it is never enough

so he stops

one day

he just stops

he doesn't make her coffee

anymore

even though

she needs it

and she needs him

and she doesn't even realize

that he stops

or that

his smile is a sneer

and one day

she comes home

to an empty house

devoid of their love

and she knows

that he is gone

and the night washes over her

and the next morning the dawn

breaks again

but she is not there

to see it.