the silence bit at him
like the jaws of a beast,
closing down on his heart,
that painfully throbs for company.

never like the others -
who fell in love together,
and smiled and laughed,
never staring down seclusion.

it had mostly been his fault,
and that ironic blame
magnified his tortuous guilt
over a thousandfold.

the playgrounds are gone,
he scorns the love of his family,
hoping with more than his soul
he could have the touch of a different breed.