Since

Alimony arranged,

child-support sorted,

assets divided disproportionate

The smart ones separated,

per the diktats of prenup,

a preguessed inconvenience

Each freed at once

to walk their ways

as far and further from the rest

Even as

a pile of memories lies unclaimed,

festering as if a disowned gangrene

Memories

from the days, early and naive,

when each could believe

in the absurdity of being

"happily ever after"

since

Memories

orphaned, confused,

misplaced memories

creeping up unseen

up the shoulders,

down the throat

to grab the heart

by every missed beat,

on a cold night

living yet another nightmare

waiting to unfold

past the hope of being

"happily ever after"

again

and since