next time

after the fallout,
the earth seemed eerily quite.
no background noise,
no city traffic,
children playing,
even white noise was silenced.
the earth stood still for some time
as the wounded bled out the past and regenerated their vitality from deep within.
although the wreckage seemed devestating,
it actually wasn't so bad.
he just stopped for the time being
and let all of the bad soak in,
and in so, learned from his mistake.
next time he would know better.
next time it wouldn't go so far.
next time...
if there was a next time.
maybe that was the lesson he was supposed to learn...
there shouldn't be a next time.

but then again....
he did know himself.