she penned her intials
onto the anchor
fastened
around my neck
wondering why
her sudden absence
dragged me under
with blue lips
and
wrinkled fingers.

we both knew
she would be
the death of me
or
of some facet
at least
but the joy she got
in that knowledge
should have been
a warning.

maybe
i ignored the wailing siren
thinking it
another test
of the emrgency broadcast system
not waiting
for the big reveal
the curtain pulled back
the grim spectre
of
impending doom.