he spoke his words like they cut his tongue and burned his heart.
his truth was found in the places that he avoided
and he could not face his mind when it would return from its forbidden forests.
stuck,
he was left to burst into shadows while his soul was consumed
by the evil of dead days.
spiraling words of hurt from mouths that he no longer kissed
caressed his ears from the grave.
he felt as if he was the lone portrait on a long stretch of white wall with no admirers to be seen.
alone,
as far as he could see.