the seconds that pass for the non-protagonists

Give me a second.
Just give me one second
to talk you down from this.

one...two...three...four...

out of that gateway
you appear
and wave me away;
you tease me with a smile designed for strangers;
for letting them know
that you're untouchable

i can't save you

cos'
this time
we're not acting for anyone;
no one is watching us pretend
to be protagonists,
cos'
you never really needed saving
and i was never really a hero

So you say,
"I think
this time
we are really
saying goodbye."

you appear in that gateway
four times,
waving me away
with more tears in your eyes
each time

one...two...three...four...

four seconds is all it takes
for the one you love
to walk away
forever