you say you want me
to open up...
let you in...
show you the source
of the hurt..

so i do.
i trust you wouldn't
hurt me..
betray me..

and every time
i fall for it.

you graze your fingers
across my rib cage..
trusting you'll be
gentle this time..
loving this time..
my chest opened
for you to see everything that's inside..

'i'm not going to hurt you'
you say..
right before you
break the bones apart
and rip my heart out from inside..
you hold it in front of me
to see..
making sure i'm watching..
trusting my heart in your hands
no longer,
you recklessly let it fall
to the ground
and you walk over it..
making sure it crumbles beneath
your feet..
it was warm..
alive..
beating..
full of nothin but love..

"i want to protect what's in there"
you say..
no..
you don't.