I see it all
you, me, us
In the kitchen
dancing in sepia lights

In the mall
between the aisles
bouncing and tip-tapping
when a happy beat comes on

In the bed
between the sheets
with a faint morning light
escaping between the curtains

But now I also see
the invisible bruises
that you left in my heart
and in my mind

The harsh words
that came out of your soft lips
The heavy and strong hands
that played beautiful melodies

I see it all now
like tasting Cherry Wine
that is sweet and bold
but leaves a bitter aftertaste

My mother liked you
No, she loved you even
She welcomed you on our dinner table
like you were some kind of long lost son

But she did not warn me that the likes of you
have soft lips and tongue
That touch my skin, my *****, my soul
only to leave harsh marks and bruises

And your swift hands that play the strings
would caress my heart, slowly, gently
Only to tear and rip it apart
like how you rip my clothes until I'm naked

She did not warn me that behind those innocent eyes
is an emotionally manipulative and abusive man
who would slow dance me at 2am in the kitchen
But let go of me, and yet me when I fall

She did not warn me because she did not know
That you are just like her husband and my father
But I'm not repeating her mistakes
and blindly call it love

the darkness is more blinding
for even with my eyes shut,
monsters are more vivid than reality

silence becomes more deafening
for in silence, the screams in my head
are louder than roaring thunders

I am afraid of this emptiness
but I would rather stay here forever
for I am at peace when the lights are out

I visit graves once and lay flowers, then leave
I lay flowers on the grave of fireflies
Where once a light so bright, shined
I lay flowers on the grave of butterflies
Where wings once flapped and swayed
I lay them on the graves of children
Where warm laughters once echoed

But I came across the grave of your heart
And instead of leaving flowers,
I planted the seed of my heart
Seeds of spring, warmth, and hope
It was the only grave I ever came back to

Grave visitors are forbidden to visit again
More so, they are forbidden to plant
But I visited yours everyday and never missed
I tended the seed that I planted
When graves are watered with rain and love
Will the light pass through the cracks?
Would roses bloom on hearts that died?

Roses bloomed, and my time has come
While you thrive, I'll vanish as a punishment
For the grave visitor laid his heart for love
Perhaps, my darling, in another life
I wouldn't have to die to bring back life to you

They say "It takes two to tango"
But I can dance alone
Like a graceful ballerina
With aching ankles
And broken bones
I'll gracefully show you
How beautifully broken I am