Triumphs of Heartbreak

April 26, 2015

by

Alex Cardascio and Brandon Januska

Triumphs of Heartbreak

riding along
I look over
At the empty seat

I make a wish
to the stars above

longing
that things
had never changed

laying in bed
I can't seem to fall asleep

Staring up
Out the window
At the moon

I hear buzzing
coming from my phone

•

gust of wind
whispers to me
my future

across the street
I see her

clouds rush in
rain hits my windshield
like never before

headlights appear
at the last moment

the ditch braces our fall
I get out of the car
to make sure everyone's okay

covered with blood
we assessed the damage

•

at the hospital
the only light
is the moon

we brace ourselves
as the bad news arrives

I call everyone
letting them know
mom might not make it

the waiting room
suddenly becomes silent

during the funeral
we are surrounded by
cherry blossoms

embracing family members
we leave the cemetery

•

in the car
my brother asks
when mom will wake up

no one replies
the question left untouched

trying to move on
without her
seems impossible

three years later
I find my first love

suddenly
everything in life
appears to be perfect

until she leaves me
at the alter

•

summer afternoon
we go fishing
in silence

a tug on the line
I caught something

I pull it out
of the water
it's just a boot

after a long day
we head back empty handed

my father tells me
this has been his best day
since mom died

that night
we look out at the stars

•

standing next to him
I hear my father
begin to pray

I never knew
he believed in God

attending church
for the first time
we don't know when to stand

the pastor's sermon
lasts 30 minutes

outside the church
cherry blossoms
fall around us

it reminds me
of mom

• • •