"Write me something pretty,"
She said
"Something I can show my family
Tell me how you love and miss me
And how you can't live without me

Write it with your favorite pen
No, better yet
Write it in blood
With your hand trembling and heart burning

Put it all out there, every last word
Maybe write it standing on your head
Or on the edge of a fifteen story building
With one foot hovering over violent traffic below

And after you've done that
Give me everything
I want everything
Your head, your heart, your brain, your lungs, your soul

Give me everything until nothing's left
Until you can't breathe
Put it all on the table and then
Put a smile on your face

Yes
And when it's all there
All splayed out on the cheap, plastic table cloth
I'm going to rip it off.

You better hope your love is balanced,"
She said.