fear of the unknown

it may start out that way.

you know.

marriage.

all is well.

there's this magical feeling

about it.

but time,

or something happens.

there's lying,

there's cheating.

there's arguing.

there's the pull of nature,

gravity

tearing you apart

and you spend

the next twenty or thirty

years,

or if you're lucky,

twelve months,

pretending. going along

with it.

love has become

a distant memory.

an old coat

in the hall closet

that you wear every blue moon.

worn and torn, ripped

at the seams.

it itches.

you spend a lot of time

staring out a window, 

wondering what if,

but what are you going

to do?

there's the kids, the yard,

the house,

the in laws.

the dog.

who gets the dog?

there's almost no way out.

fear of the unknown keeps

bringing you

back home.