don't you think that you've held on for long enough?
desperation has never looked good on you,
so stop remembering that day when they should have noticed
and stop blaming them for doing the same now.
people never change in the ways we need them to.

She always has to remind you about the truth-
that evil thing- that even if someone had cared, had called
for help, you'd still be right here, in smoke.
nurture has nothing over the chemistry of the brain;
no doctor, no drug, no institution, could have prevented this.

i admit, the fall was rough, but your skin was already calloused;
all those scraped knees in third grade weren't for nothing.
don't think about the hands you used to have or the way
the moon never shone on you when you needed a reflection-
this is making something better than privilege will ever be.

this is how you learn to not be so slow, so soft and easily burned.
ignorance is always bliss, so look the other way
and pretend that this thing inside is something close to normal.
you weren't born for ease and grace-
the sun is waiting for you, not the other way around.