Leaving Quietly (Poetry)

Is there a back way out of here? -
an alley, dimly lit,
where I can softly slip away,-
an unobtrusive exit.

Avoiding scenes: no long goodbyes,
no sad memento mori
or sorrow's shadow-heavy eyes
to follow, count my footsteps.

And the spot that I vacate -
the narrow, shifting space -
will heal: the air will close and seal
without a scar or trace.

Discreet, this art of leaving
unnoticed, while the light
changes and my day dissolves
like breath into the night.

And after, when they find I've gone,
perhaps they'll comprehend
the reason why I took my cue
and left before the end.