you look at me waiting to hear the next word what do you want me to say? my tongue is a bridge between truth and lies, each word delicately placed but still at the edge of falling. eyes shoot down only to look back up again. moons dance in your eyes and I can't seem to touch them. heat is pressed against me, insects crawl on my skin. you huff what? I say as my head snaps up you look at me again, moons are morphing into constellations and I can't see you. your tongue is sharp as it cuts me from left to right. so sharp that I don't notice the pain not until I see the trickle of blood flow across my pale skin, I am the canvas you painted. I am covered in rust, like an old car left outside for too long forgotten as these years. I need to wash myself don't leave you say, with your hand reaching out, you touch my arm and I holler in pain a burn mark where you touched me so softly. I look up, there are no longer stars gleaming, sparkling against the night sky but black voids in your eyes. I need to leave my hand grazes the golden door **** the gold is soaking into my skin. please, save me you say sounding so smooth, so rehearsed. I don't look back as the door behind me shuts my eyes are open but suddenly I see.