He rubs me raw
Not with his hands
No, not anymore
Not as often
But with his words
From the outside, in

The tears coat my eyes
Its the middle of class
Yet my thoughts aren't on Chekhov
But on how close the day is to done
Which terrifies me more than
It probably should

I did it again
I thought I had stopped
But the red spilling out of my thighs
Proves me wrong
Yet again
I wasn't meant to be the girl with scars
But here I stand
Hiding them under my skirt
Where no one can see

I have no protection
I have no comfort
I have no image of beauty
I am Alone
I am Vulnerable
I am Naked

Out there
I can be pretty
Out there
I can be approachable
Out there
I can be funny
Out there
I can be depressed
I can be meaningful
I can be honest

But he sees it and says

Out there
I will be taken advantage of
Out there
They will take me away
Out there
They will take my joke and use it against me
Out there
I will not be safe
I will be hurt
And only by them

But the most dangerous thing I face
Is not Out There
No it is not Out There