"I love you."
he whispers.
My heart is fluttering in my chest
like a billion butterflies
are loose and stuck inside.
"I love you too."
My foolish young heart answers.
Months pass.
My first kiss stolen
by one who doesn't deserve it.
He touches me
in ways he should never
have been allowed.
But if I left him alone
he would "**** himself."
I couldn't let that happen.
It would be my fault.
Plus I loved him,
right?
Hands in my hair
sliding on my skin
up my shirt
down below.
"No one can know."
I let him control me
overtake me
then hurt me.
Over and over again.
I was empty.
"Leave him"
"He doesn't deserve you"
"Look what he's doing to you"
"Leave me alone, you don't understand"
Seconds, minutes, hours, days
Then months and finally a year passes by.
I know I should leave him,
but I love him,
right?
"You need to stop."
So I do
"I'll die without you"
His last words haunt me,
but I knew they were lies
crafted to poison my mind.
I turned my back
and I walked away.
Now seconds, minutes, hours, days
then months and now a year has passed
and I am okay.
I am alive.
I am still hurt and afraid to let myself think
of trying to love again
to trust again,
but I'm moving on.
I will make it.
I am tough.
I am strong.
I am me.
I am free.