Cigarette

_{Her eyes are hollow,
darkly shadowed.
I’m looking for scars,
but find none so far
(this is reassuring).
“It’s been a long day,” she says
apologetically,
glancing back at me
before lighting a cigarette.
I shrug, and ask for gum.
It is then when I realize
that the emptiness in her eyes
is swallowing me.
I shake my shoulders,
and brush the feeling away.}