the quiet

i have grown comfortable in the quiet.
with only the sound of my own pulse jumping
and my breath shaking
it is engulfing the room like flames.
i am alone on both sides of the phone.

i talk to myself more, lately
to make up for the deafening radio silence
that i have grown to hear.
my voice has become foreign to my own ears
and i fear the quiet will burn me, too.

my ears have gotten acquainted
with the lack of words lingering in the air
and your name ceases its movements
on the lips that call you their best friend.
somehow the quiet gets louder.

the quiet is burning my lungs
as i breathe through one-sided conversations.
the days fade into weeks of waiting for you
to ease the smoke
and i burn with the pain of your silence.

the distance should make the heart grow fonder
yet my heart is on fire and breaking apart like dust.
my pulse is coming to a halt
and i wonder if you can hear the quiet
as you leave me with nothing but ashes
and singed dial tones.