I hear you talk away from me.
Your short sighted breath for the wind to carry.

In the meantime my ears are filled
with the strokes of another’s gentle tongue.

You speak to her of similar things that you always say to me. Promises, impossible truths, of the boldness and strength you’d carry for me.

She melts for you unknowingly. She opens up and thinks your lovely, then collapses into you as a delicacy. You take her in, as you’d taken me, and in your arms she falls to prey.

Beating heart, frantically, I try to get away from you. And here he is, a better man, if only you could set me free. If I leave, will you let me?

Short sighted I contemplate, what have I done, and what’s left to come. I leave the good, to protect him from you and let your voice carry into me. Knowing full well it’s nothing but infectious gunk, it drips down my ears to my lungs. Serrated words meant to capture me, my lungs destroyed, I must tear them out. Barely alive, the way you like me. Filled with your poison and half myself, you want me to stay down right here.

You speak to her, and temporarily release me. My bones flood with relief and I collapse into sleep. Short sighted to engage with you. I run in my dreams and taste the fruit of free and lonely.