Eyes narrowed, smoldering coals.

They were never windows to the soul.

Perfect polyester skin stretched comfortably

Over fiberglass muscles, metal bones:

An idol infallible next to me.

Hair like midnight, five o’clock shadow.

Hands laced with blue veins,

Lips pressed thin lines

Engraved in alabaster palms.

Pants creased, starched.

An empty shell. A hollow self.

I poured myself into you

And as my heart beat, the monotonous sound echoed.

You were never more than something to look at.