each time i
traced over a vein
a blush-pink stain
blooming

like every blemish
kissed in a dull light

it’s as if
everything you’ve ever
touched now had a line
going right
through it

lines
that only i could
see

it’s as if everything
we were became
meaningless

like crinkled petals
on a windowsill

like
every vein
i’ve longed to kiss
goodbye

drying up inside

dying of thirst
in a cracked vase

and
before the incision is
made there

between dizzy spells
and tears

i only hope
red roses grow

and run

far
far away

from here