Victor's Ghost

I saw a ghost one night. She was beautiful to see. Floating on translucent winds, she was reaching out for me. I answered her with silence, controlled by awe and fear. Then I noticed she was crying. Her cheek glistened with a tear. "Victor," I heard her beckon as she reached once more for me. "My Lady, you're mistaken", I responded tenderly. "Are you my dear Victor, I've searched for endlessly? For now we'll be together for all eternity." I thought of her sweet offer, to know unending bliss; for in her heart, eternal love and heaven in her kiss. I searched my mind and wondered if I was wrong before. If actually I was the man that she was looking for. But I knew that I was not the one who held this woman's heart, and with a tear in mine own eye I begged her to depart. And as I watched her fade away, I felt her anxious pain and realized that she'd go on calling out his name. That's when I first realized the strength in three small words; that I had often tossed around as breadcrumbs to the birds. Not even death can overcome these words when spoken true. So be sure of your sincerity when professing, "I love you." Published in ecesis, April 2005, p. 19

Sketch by Y. Fei 'Kata' Leung. Reprinted with permission.