you can see that you are almost done
the pages yet to be turned are dwindling away
and soon it will be finished
but you are not ready
for the feast to end
regardless of how well you have eaten
you want more
more than those last few pages can satisfy
so you step away
wonder around it
set it aside
even pretend to be disinterested
but it calls you back
you must pick it up again
though that act
inevitably leads to it being over
you know that there is no sequel
once those last few pages are consumed
this feast will be over
nevertheless
you can no longer stay away
eagerly you pick it up
find your bookmark
and let go
ah
indeed
you devour every word
and spend more time than needed
savoring the last few paragraphs
perhaps rereading the final words again
even flipping back through the pages
lingering a minute or two on your underlined passages
this journey is over
you may talk about it
suggest it to someone else
or even write a few words regarding their words
but you know it is over
alright
so be it
you will push another aside
on the overcrowded shelves
and make room for it
in its new home
perhaps
one day you may let someone else take it with them
but more and more that becomes highly unlikely
it is now a part of you
and pieces of us are harder to let go of
as we feel the march of time beating on
euphoria and sorrow mix together
with the end
but you do feel time marching on
thus you wonder over
to the unread stack
they all call your name
a new journey begins
~ Cristina Jill Mosqueda ~