How many ways can we say the thing that utters the essence of the broken heart?

There are ongoing psychological studies of how the heart literally tells its own story. People who have received hearts from donors who begin to have dreams of past lives they've never known--at least in their current bodies.

The heart does speak.

And, when it's broken, it sings a ghostly dirge.

How else do we say it? My heart's broken in two--torn in two--split in two--....

How do you mend a broken heart?

How else do we say this? Is it simply the ONLY word that conveys this kind of division, this split, this gap...?

And, if this is the only word (so physical) that conveys the emotion, why? Why is that?

Anyway, on the lookout for synonymous suggestions here.

Still beating regards,
WW (Wynadotte according to the Spellchecker girl)