I love you, he said
As the hanging wall pictures tumbled down
Knocking me in the head
Piece by piece

I devoured each lie
And asked for more
Craving the attention
That was his love

I'd walk home in the dark
As delicately as a bruise
Blooming from the imprints of
His cool hands

He'd hit me up for a plan
The next day
Throwing a private party
Where no one could hear

My silent screams
Sometimes I couldn't even hear
Them over the slamming
Of doors

He'd play and twist me
Like his little doll
But it was our
Special game

His scent
Like pepper spray
Burned my nose
So I inhaled deeper

He'd set fire to the house
Or maybe just to my heart
Clawed at my thighs
Got drunk off my blood

And that's how our love worked
He'd break my bones
And I'd insist it was
My fault

But then I met you
And found that love isn't measured
By the number of bruises
Down my spine
Or even by the scars
He'd give me on my wrists

With you
I'd never even think
To apologize for being me
When that's all he'd ever hear

So no he didn't really love me
And that realization
Hit me harder
Than he ever could