he said to her, "you're not worth it"

silenced

she sat in silence
gathering her thoughts.
steadily she began to speak.
softly, she stroked his blackened heart with words of colour,
gently and carefully, saying, "That is where you are wrong
because I still stand here, and as long as I stand alive, I breathe and walk purpose. I am worth it"

silenced

he ached in grievance, knowing this time he couldn't win,
he knew victory and took pride, but failure was raw,
it was heavy and it weakened his knees.

silenced

he went to speak, but the words turned to silence