Dust to Dust

The ashes left behind from addiction.

Haunted by memories replaying in nightmares
The darkness reopens old wounds I cannot bear
Imagery of the woman I couldn’t save
Sadness and regret I’ll carry to my grave
So many years she held the key to my heart
And in months my soul was torn apart.

Once the most beautiful woman in my eyes
She began to perish the moment her addictions arrived
Sneaking pills I’d find remnants of crushed
Her soul, much like them, crumbled into dust
It grew worse as the days fell from the calendar
Her wedding band on the floor a glimpse of the future.

Day in, day out, I watched my love change
Her personality, features and attitude completely rearranged
I did everything I could to bring her back
In the end, it was in vain, useless with the strength I lacked
Rehab, family, specialists were never enough
To prevent the rift of those chemicals in between us.

Every week she slipped further away deeper into despair
Until photos, video and memories are all that’s left here
The woman within in them I remember
The one that left me behind was unfamiliar
You looked like her on the outside
But she wasn’t there behind those glassed eyes

She is gone now, somewhere beyond the clouds
I’m here, tumbling through a life I no longer know my way around
She lingers ever still whenever a tear races down my cheek
Expressing a million feelings I could never properly speak
Part of me spirited away with her that day
Now I hate myself for being unable to stop her, finding a way.

It’s a terrible thing to have loved and lost
But seeing it unfold for months is a fate that hurts the most
Knowing you couldn’t prevent your love from becoming a ghost
Witnessing so many years spent together
Lost to the indexes of time forever
Now I have nightmares when I go to sleep
About the love I was unable to save and keep.

Reviews

[tanmay7551]

It is terrible and horrific when you see someone dear die each day... Again adding fuel to fire if you get a feeling of guilt of not able to save the person.

But life must go on...

Anyhow, Very well written and words are crafted and placed so accurate.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

That it is, you are quite right on both points. Thank you for the review and for reading!

[tanmay7551]

You are welcome!

[Tony Jordan]

I can relate to this. My sister's friend became addicted to paracetemols and she went horribly - organ failure - but not before her looks, her personality, her relationships and soul failed.
This is so heartbreaking.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

That is terrible, I am sorry to hear that. Drugs are devastatingly destructive, I've seen old friends wither into shadows of themselves due to addiction. There needs to be more that can be done, too many people have become ensnared by them.

[Tony Jordan]

True...true

I fear the next generation of addicts will be VR ones.

Thanks Jack.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

That's a frightening notion. And thank you for the comment and for reading, I appreciate it!

[Tony Jordan]

Your welcome Jack

[Valentine]

A very deep and personal write. I lost my husband but to Dementia, it was also a slow death and nothing I or doctors could do to prevent it. Too many people are hooked on drugs, they all need help. Valentine

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

I am so sorry to hear that, I can't even begin to imagine what that was like. Though this did not quite happen to me personally, I did lose friends who succumbed to addiction. I agree, people need all the help possible to free themselves from the shackles of drugs. Thank you for reading and for the review.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is both poignant and moving. As much of a tragedy as it is for the one whose life is no more, it's much worse for the loved ones left behind. To watch a rose fade and wither is terribly sad. It haunts you with its beauty and covers you with ashes.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

"To watch a rose fade and wither is terribly sad. It haunts you with its beauty and covers you with ashes." - Eloquently put and too true, whether it be due to addiction or just a love gradually vanishing. Thank you for reading, I appreciate it.

[Jackie]

Incredibly touching! Is there truth behind this? If so terribly sorry to hear.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jack Peaslee)]

Thanks for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Not quite but I'm glad it came across as such, I try to place myself in the emotional shoes of the characters I'm writing. I think the inspiration came from a few friends I'd lost at the time due to drug abuse.