it seems so innocent at first

the first stitch is slowly- ever so slowly- tearing
you tell yourself it’s just a little unstitching

It’s fine

but then the sensation continues,
down your vertebrae, exposing tender flesh
you recognize it
but you hold back
because it’s too embarrassing to speak of
thinking it will ruin your friendship
but you don’t realize
your friendship is already being ruined

by the time you can do anything about it

It’s gone

fabric is torn beyond recognition
never to be sewn the exact same way as before

and sure, there will be others


but the worst part is knowing that that person doesn’t have a ripped seam running down their heart.