It wasn't the act,
it was the knowing
that you could,
and still did.

A glance held too long,
a,wird withheld,
a truth folded
beneath convenience.

Trust doesn't shatter loudly,
it unthreads itself
in quiet moments,
a slow unraveling
you don't notice
until nothing holds.

You were close enough
to protect me,
but chose
to walk away.