i heard a poem tonight.
it wasn't long,
and the words were gentle,

but it shook me to the core.
i've never been so
traumatized
by words,
words from strangers.

i've never bitten off all my nails
due to 3 minutes of speech.

this poem reminded me of
you.

you're the one who i think about every night before i sleep,
you're the one who i wish i'll never see again.

your smile
  and your wicked games
    haunt me.

they make me feel sick in my own skin,
they make me feel at loss,
and guilty.

three years is a long time
a long time i wasted
letting you take advantage of me.

letting you?

i fought back, of course.
i would kick,
or threaten to scream,

but your threats were laced thicker,
your manipulations were solid,
   there was no going back.

i remember tearing at my own skin,
and holding my breath,
hoping you wouldn't notice my presence.

you always did.

i remember how happy i was
when you would leave
and how much i dreaded your return.

i didn't have anything,
i was just a shy kid who didn't have a story to tell,

and you were the one everyone listened to.
the one who was always on stage.

ms. perfect would never ****** another child, now would she?

no,

of course not.