His eyes sparkled, and I fell apart.

His wicked smile lit me aflame.

We burned hot and fast.

Too fast to last.

Yet I still

burn for

him.

Strangers look and see the

frostiness of my irises

the tensing of my muscles

the scowl on my lips

and they whisper

she must feel nothing

Oh, how I wish

they were right.

The truth is

I

feel

everything

I see the defeat in her eyes.

I hear the pain in her voice.

She knows.

She will never understand me.

What her hurts the most is

she has no idea why

What made you like this?

He gasped into my mouth

Who broke you?

I smile without warmth

and

laugh without humor

Oh, baby

I whisper

who hasn't broken me?

I need to tell you something

My mouth forms the words

I'm not ready to say

You turn your eyes to me

Eyes that swim with 

curiosity, anxiety

Icy hands grip my throat

as I try to spill those words

I've rehearsed a million times

They're just words

I lie to myself

Cowardice becomes me as my

mumbled apology replaces

what I really need to say to you

Momentary relief embraces me

but is quick to release its hold

as loneliness greets me

like an old friend