& though -

I feel strong when harshness kicks & destroys,
a calm whispering ever softly away reemerging cycles of paranoid;

fighting alongside mine grit as our souls remain conjoined:
I stand tall as heart is reminded hand is near to hold,
one... if not, the... greatest story untold;
because there's a love emanating below chest,
challenges the darkness to drown limbs less;
helps night insist on dreams to believe,
expelling nightmares for your next to me;

no such gripping words for sky to reach,

yet...

thankful to you for loving me,
as I remain slightly tarnished
&
heart retains few bits not swallowed by carnage.