I hugged myself one night.

Amidst angry words I heard
despite their silence;
among the eyes of those
who were not there;
against anything and
everything I’ve
ever done;

I hugged the flesh that carved itself;
engulfed the form I’ve never known;
I kissed my heart, too weak to fight;

I held myself one night.

And oh,

What it felt like to be loved.

(Finally.)