Checkmate

Constant guilt.

Constant hatred.

Constant shame.

I’ve always hated you.

You live your life like a star.

Happy. Successful. Modeling.

A king. The board is laid out in your favor.

While all the pieces you knocked off the board

still feel like the ground beneath them

is rumbling.

You’ve hurt someone many years younger,

and never once felt like

apologizing was the right thing

to do.

You only cared about

checkmate.

Because at the end of the day,

the people you hold tight,

they’re all just pawns.

And all of it is just a game to you.

Just a game of chess,

where we’re all pawns,

and you have all the queens.

And you’ve had us in check since turn one.

Just take my king.

At least then,

I don’t have to play your game any more,

or worry about

winning or losing.