this is harder than it seems

this is harder than it seems, this is 

harder than it seems, they whispered to each other as they climbed aboard the 5:01 and sped away into nowhere. 

they sat down, staring at each other across the subway seats, wondering how their love turned so quickly to hate

and refusing to believe it, refusing to believe it too even as they stared the truth in the eyes dying a little inside with every glance

but still hope lives on

stubbornly

maybe even stupidly

against all evidence and all feelings to the contrary

so they hadn't told anyone at all about this, this struggle, except that

they'd told everyone, really, because the entire car was being invaded by their infectious scent

the smell of their paralyzation taking over each body, turning them to each other and wondering where to go next

i guess we'll go forward, he said to her, not wanting to give up, knowing that if he fell, there was no turning back

i guess i'll go with that, she thought to him, not wanting to believe it was really over, knowing that if he fell, she would never really believe it again, not ever not ever not ever

the cab slowed, the voice came on and the door dinged open, and the two stepped out 

still holding hands 

still looking into each others eyes

still here