his arms burned                                                                               my skin.

i can feel his wet lips against                                               my skin.

he had branded me.

i searched for burns on                                                                                my skin

to no avail, they’d already sunk deep into my bones.

i cried for hours. i don’t feel clean.

i can still feel his hands all over                                                                  my skin.

i was 89 days clean

when my hands turned to blades and i wanted to tear apart                my skin.

At night when i’m alone i think about him.

and i think of Your words, “why

didn’t

 you                                                                                        

scream?”