hinges creaked as the door pivoted from its frame
i can still hear the soft caressing of his cotton socks against the canvas of his sneakers
he trekked deeper into uninvited territory

the ice rattled as i poured his drink
the way he smirked at me over the glass brim is unwavering in my mind
he forced himself into my bedroom
my sanctuary
my safety

his hands groped the ****, searching for a lock
the carpet rustled with every step he took toward me
the screech of a lose baseboard echoed through the thick silence
i reached out for hope
confidence that my purity will be faultless when he leaves

each time i undress myself
my conscious races back to the unwanted nakedness of that night
i lay exposed to more than just the sticky air between us
every revolution of the fan was a dagger in my vulnerable skin

goose bumps scampered across my body
his hands moved toward my ******* despite my contest
the violation began
my head fell to the side
with every blink i see the clock hands ticking

i can smell his breath in my face
my dreams are invaded by the wickedness deep in his eyes
my life has been torn apart by his vicious hands

i flinch at the sight of a friendly hand approaching my body
at the presence of an embrace, i am tense
the torture replays every time i close my eyes
the broken record never stops turning

seventeen minutes

now i am on my hands and knees picking up my broken pieces from the floor

what does it take to compensate for a broken life?
she can wrap her heart in cashmere
and seal her lips in crimson
so nobody can see the cracks
or hear the lies slipping out
but her eyes will tell the story she refuses to reveal

what does it take to compensate for a broken heart?
she can rest her head in a new bed every night
the lace on her skin can entice every man
so she is never alone
and always desired
but her tears will tell the story she refuses to reveal

what does it take to compensate for a broken person?
she can give all that she has, but that will never make her whole

a love that is new
is unexpected
is unplanned
never a mistake, but an embraced surprise

caught in the middle
was something so innocent
not to be touched
not to be heard
not to be seen
only felt

a love that is pure
is fresh
is unpolluted
never parting from origin
a secret so hard to keep

but your burden is too heavy,
my shoulders too weak
i have to let go

he cries
he kisses goodbye
he touches you for the first and last time
i pray on my knees
holding you

the most precious of gifts in my hands
diligently made into perfect form
he and i stroke your delicate skin
knowing this is the end

a love that is forever
is strong
is unconditional
my love could not keep you with me
my strength could not keep you with me
you slipped away

love was not enough
love is never enough

like dawn, his light became visible to me slowly

when i entered the room
the only presence was darkness
a minuscule light in complete emptiness showed itself
the golden ray extended beyond the gloom
it stretched and battled with the void
the radiance dashed to my eyes
my first glance at the rest of my life

everyday the luminosity grew and more of my soul was visible
i relied on the sunshine to see the world
the richness brightened the life i lived
trees became alluring landscapes  
water transformed into magnificent seas
the clouds shifted into plush pillows

murkiness obscured the light he casted
but the sunshine always prevailed
without fail, it navigated me through the best and worst of my existence
it seemed as if the luster was forever ablaze

internal shadows rolled over the sun
my light was entirely eclipsed
where were the landscapes?
the seas
the ivory pillows i danced upon in my dreams
all withdrawn from my vision

i clashed with the isolation until there was nothing
hollow once again, my world was dull
trees were bland and seas were static
the cushions near heaven i dreamt of and waltzed along, disappeared

time passed slowly within the blankness
the unrelenting glimmer contended against the vacancy

like dawn, his light became visible to me slowly
once again

twilight trembled and quaked
through the fractures, i witnessed the daybreak rushing in
the light descended onto my being
the darkness retreated at the sight of his radiance
my realm was faultless

like dawn, my love for him became visible to me slowly