Fate has bound us together,
With slack ropes and rusted chains
In a one sided tug-of-war
I struggle to support the weight of your soul
And my own

With shaking hands, and jumbled words
You send me texts
You hope to find comfort in the messages I type
But you would rather call, and find comfort in my voice

I see the scars and open sores
Scratched into the flesh of your arms
By your fingernails
I find small comfort in knowing
A knife has never split your flesh
But everyday I fear that one will

With a shaky voice and mumbled words
I sacrifice my comfort, and reluctantly call
Suffering through awkward silences
I find more comfort in your jumbled words

Constantly, you threaten me, when I refuse to call
With pictures of knives, and words
That cut just as deeply

Do you know
The relief I feel
The immense pain that is soothed
When I get your text
Simply saying “Good morning”
After a night left in the dark

I am young,
Only 17 years old
While other girls are focused
On college searches
And prom dresses
I worry endlessly
That my best friend
Won’t be there
To text me “Good morning” tomorrow

You say you love me
And when I come of age,
You want me to be with you
The love I feel for you can not be expressed
But it is unlike the love you have for me

I am willing to be with you, but at what cost
I want you to be happy,
I would do anything to make sure you are
But I am young, I have my whole life to live
What if you aren’t the one for me
If the relationship seizes to exist,
Will you as well?

I sit in class
The hours pass
The stress and worry drive me insane
8 hours without hearing from you
What will I find when I get home?

2 unread emails
4 new texts
A new voicemail

Another picture of a knife,
This one covered in the blood of your wrists, or worse,
Your neck?