oh you poor thing,

you poor sweet thing.

sit down for a while, here with me

tell me how it hurts.

tell me how you gasp for air, tell me

how you press your hands to your chest

only for them to come away red and dripping.

sit down and cry your acid tears and I…

I will sit here with you and wipe them.

I will brush your tangled hair and I will

bandage your wounds.

we can sit here, together, until your throat opens

until your bleeding slows and your face heals…

and you leave.

I watch as you walk away, watching until you’re gone, watching until my eyes burn and my throat tightens and I press my hands to my heart.

They come away red and dripping.