(Note:  This poem was inspired by the relationship between Kaji Ryoji and Katsuaragi Misato from the anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion," and was written from Misato's POV.  It relies heavily on the events that occur in the show, and if you have not seen it in its entirety you may not fully understand what's going on or maybe you will.  I haven't tested it on anyone who hasn't seen the show.)

(SPOILER ALERT!!!  If you haven't seen the end of "Neon Genesis Evangelion," don't read this!!)

The Truth of Living

Once upon a time

It seems so long ago,

We were so happy together.

Like everything else,

It didn't last.

I've often wondered why,

Though I should have long forgotten.

Do I remember because

I'm still in love with you?

Maybe we didn't last because

We grew into different people.

Or was it something else?

I wanted to achieve my goals.

You just wanted to find

The truth of living.

I wonder now,

Did you find the truth you were seeking?

Have I achieved my goals?

I didn't really expect to see you again,

But here you are.

Fate—or is it destiny, or something else?—

Has brought you back into my life.

Its different now then it was before,

Did I really expect things to stay the same?

Now there are people that depend on me,

There are things I must take care of,

I have duties to perform.

I cannot afford to ignore responsibility.

I'm not willing to take another chance.

The stakes are too high.

Tell me, am I afraid to?

Despite my best efforts

You're back in my life.

I can see now that I was afraid.

Afraid of my past, and of an uncertain future.

Maybe I'm not as strong

As I thought I was.

When I'm wrapped in your arms,

I forget my problems and fears,

But the world is in chaos

And the people I thought I could trust

Aren't who they seem.

They're not the only ones,

You're hiding something too.

You want to find the truth

But you're hiding behind lies.

This isn't a game anymore.

I want to ignore it;

I don't want to face anymore pain,

But you won't let me deceive myself any longer.

Are we truly in love?

Or is that just another lie?

Are you just using me to find your truth?

Maybe we're just looking for some comfort,

Something familiar in this crazy world.

Slowly, everything starts to unravel.

Lies reveal themselves,

Turning my world upside down.

The truth has finally caught up to you;

You've bought it with a price.

Now you've been taken away from me forever.

Was the truth of living

Worth the price you paid?

Never again will I see your face

Or hear your laughter.

All I can do is cry.

I feel nothing but anguish,

The knife cuts deep into my heart.

This wound will leave another scar.

This reality is dismal.

Or is it just a dream?

Why couldn't we be happy together?

Why did all of this have to happen?

It's your fault; you're the one

Who's gotten me into this mess.

I've tried to move on

But now I'm jaded.

It seems the end is getting closer,

I can feel it in my soul.

The final test is coming.

Thoughts echo in my head,

Haunting my dreams.

You won't let me rest

Until I've found the lies I've been living.

The truth is brutal.

It burns like fire.

But that doesn't matter because

I'll be with you soon.

You've finally led me to the truth.

I've found the truth of living;

I've overcome my fears.

I was blind to it before,

But everything seems so clear now.

To find the truth of living,

One must simply be truthful to oneself.

I'm confronted with my lies and deceptions,

I see them now for what they are.

I feel my life slipping away.

Have I failed those who need me?

The darkness is approaching.

Strangely I feel peaceful.

I'm sorry I can't be there with them in the end

But things are out of my control.

In another moment,

We will be together again…