do not tell them about the times I tore my limbs apart
do not tell them about the ache I encountered when he spoke
do not tell them about how I fed him every part of me until I was nothing

but a pool of clocks gliding down the pavement
do not tell them about the times I couldn't bring myself to look in the mirror in the fear of taking what was his
do not tell them about how my hands shook at the sound of the clock ticking

do not tell them how long I waited for him to open the door
do not tell them how I didn't feel worth it without being told every passing minute
do not tell them how i was nothing without him

tell them about the nights I fought to gain my own skin
tell them about how hard I pulled to rip my rotting body from his
tell them how I fought for sanity at 4 am after 2 days without sleep or food
tell them how I smiled my way through every heartbreaking text and told everyone it was from no one

tell them he was no one
tell them my fight was the ultimate one
tell them although I appeared weak, I had a skull of armour and bulletproof lungs