Sacrifice of the Heart

She met him at the tavern,
He sat at a booth with an odd look;
The silence between them was rigid as a blade,
Sitting there, statue-still, in this bar, in this nook.

I don't understand,
Was all that she could utter;
She saw over his head a flash of lightning,
And yet, the tension did not break with the thunder.

He could no longer hold his stare,
His eyes moved to the floor;
Did you ever love me? she murmured,
Did you ever need me? she implored.

His lips moved minutely,
As he attempted to speak;
But he could not muster a sound,
The intensity was at a peak.

Did you ever love me? she repeated,
She would not let him avoid the question any longer;
He met her eyes again,
She prayed to God, in her anticipation, to be stronger.

The question pushed forward, in her eyes,
Without looking, she could hear the wind blow;
Then with the slightest shaking of his head,
Her question was answered, when he whispered, No....

She was stunned, dumbfounded,
She searched his face for emotion;
Finding none, she stood quickly,
And raced out into the weather-driven commotion.

He watched her leave, keeping it together,
When she was gone, he let the flood gates open;
He did not know how he had managed it,
Hiding his immense love, unending devotion.

But he had to spare her, send her away,
It was the greatest gift he could give;
Pretending he did not love her,
Because he had cancer, and did not have long to live.