If Only I Had Known

I would have never left your side that night,
on the back of that old beat up truck,
if only I had known.
I would have kept you close,
hidden safe behind steamed windows and midnight soft rock humming in our ears.
I would have kissed you gently,
barely,
as you dipped into my thoughts with your penetrating eyes.
For I loved you then as I do now,
worlds apart as we are,
if not more.
If only I had known.
I would have whispered, "No," asked you not to go,
and let the plea lace around your heart.
I would have gripped you close and sank my desperation into your skin,
to keep you for another night.
I would have poured my heart out to you and apologized with the only words I knew how,
"I love you."
If only I had known that it would be the last I would ever see of that old beat up truck.
The last of you.
I would have begged you, "Stay," and never heard the rings from that call.
I should have known,
that I would be the death of you.