you are like
broken spines and
bad nights.

Your
kisses burned
your name
under my
skin.

Even the rain doesn't fall
in the places you have touched me.

And baby,
your hand in mine
is enough to warm me,
your kiss is what sets
this paper heart
alight.

I'll hold you
til you fall
asleep.

light a match
and
watch it
kiss me down.

You said
I wasn't worth the world,
wasn't worth anything
at all,
my face
still has a red mark
from where you've
hit me, my
body still has bruises
from where
you grabbed me
and didn't let go, as
if you were holding
on to the ghost
of someone
you once loved,
and you wanted to
make sure they didn't
disappear again.
Afterward, you
told me I was beautiful
and then took
it back,
said you didn't mean
to hurt me
but I
still am not
worth anything
at all.