Pleas of Friendship Bargained

Two hearts one, shatter to none,
as our emotions skitter across
the thin ice of what is left.
An ear-splitting crackle and snap
pumps up the volume, punctuating
promises made and then broken,
cryo'd and spitting like a fire,
dying embers of a love mis-spent. 

Must we keep fighting about this?!?

You charge at me
accusing me of lies and deceit,
all of this I have done, miraculously,
without saying so much as one word,
or the sentiments you so-desired,
and this makes me criminal to you.
For the three words I refused to say
you secure for me a life's sentence.

There is no innocence left,
as I become your heart's prisoner,
the jury having long tired out,
as we talk this beyond death,
wearied love walking a crooked line,
back to the very beginning,
our start, clearly marking the end.

Let's be friends, okay?!
I beg of you, as if
this is a viable option.
Right this with me now!
Say it out loud.
Pinky-swear, dammit!
You promised!
Let's be friends!

You say, okay, you guess,
but it's clearly lost in translation,
any afterplay, any hope at healing,
clearly governed by your rules,
which include the fact
that I may not take one step,
can go no further,
am not allowed to grow
anywhere near, away from you.

We'll be friends, only then.
This is what you really say,
and I am not to find another,
avenue of interest, or map of desire.
I must not shatter your hopes,
your dreams for a second chance,
at the future we never had.

I said, pinky swear!
but you've got it all wrong,
grabbing me by the wrist,
your grip far too tight,
and yet I repeat the offer,
while I am still standing,
Let's just be friends, okay?!

It's how we started
but fails your selective memory.
You said it's how we'd end,
our friendship the true constant,
beyond any failed attempts
to go up another level.

I couldn't love you deep,
too many personal walls to scale,
nowhere near where you needed,
and this incompatibility has become
the seething source of your anger,
but I ask you, Who was lying to who?

There is clearly no choice,
my offer must be removed,
our table cleared and a path made
so I can walk away, bruised heart
worn on my sore sleeve,
learning quite profoundly
that love should never be built
on pleas of friendship bargained.