Compassionate Losses

If I said we were as strong as we used to be,
you'd say no
and I know that.
But it's how I feel these days because
what is now is not what was.
You used to listen to, know, inside and out
this heart beating inside this chest.
But now I find my confidence
resting on the shoulders of passing strangers.
And, well, you see,
these characters from these painting
and the characters from these books,
well they're almost like friends for my heart now.
And you're a friend just for looks.