All this bitterness sat rotting my insides
for over 10 years
now nothing has remained untouched

The faults and flaws
                                    outweighing the attributes

I could no longer stomach my own reflection
not because of my appearance
but because of the ugliness that lay
                                                               below the surface

Terrified of my own unguarded thoughts
that were often sharper
                                         than any knives

Blades never quite did as much damage
as the cruelty of my internal dialogue
learning to use words as weapons
                                                         the cause of my own demise