Signal Lost in Static

I sent the words

reckless and raw,

a flare shot across silence.

The glowing screen

holds my name next to

that cruel little read receipt —

seen, untouched,

a ghost standing on the edge

of nothing.

I re-read the jumble,

a desperate tangle of noise

that failed to catch light,

a signal lost

in static,

waiting for an answer

that never came.