She loved him for a long time
after he stopped pretending.
She told them that and they doubted her.
They raised their voices repeatedly, went on
about the things he’d said and done
to her.

Why now, she asked, the past has passed.
You know why. They inspected her face
looking for a trace
of guilt.
But there was no sign of lies behind her eyes,
just sadness – no flicker of light.

You were angry, they insisted.
We know he refused your rightful share.
I swear-
money means nothing, she fidgeted in her chair.
Nobody truly believes that, they said.
But I do, she cried, it was money that left him without a care.

And what about the other, they tried a different way.
What about your lover, did he get a say
in what you did that day.
Her eyes watered,
her heart was sore. She couldn’t take this
any more.
He made me feel alive, that’s all.

She started to break
just before she woke.
And then he appeared –suddenly, like a cloud of smoke.
You did what you had to do, I know that now.
His voice never-ending
like a drawn-out whisper.
Just remember my love, with you
I was never pretending.