My Father

Father came today,
No pride shon on his face,
No glory in his stance,
His eyes devoid of its usual spark,
His face, set in stone, a guarded mask.

An emotionless hug,
A distant reply of hello,
The kiss on my mother cheek,
The scent of her hair,
His only solace.

I heard his screams last night,
I heard his sobs,
I lay awake, guilt-ridden,
What mistake had I made?

But my father- was lost,
To joy,
To us.

His soul was black and charred,
and only an empty shell remained.