if i promise not to hurt me
will you promise not to hurt you?
can't love you as i love myself...
that would be terrible for you.

screaming prayers into pillows
begging help in late night phone calls:
"do you think we'll get out alive?"
anxious, dizzy, pacing the halls.

if you tell me all your secrets
i'll tell you every one of mine.
maybe if we hold hands real tight
tomorrow we will wake up fine.

you're not alone but it's so hard--
sometimes you simply don't believe
the things you know to be the truth.
the monsters never want to leave.


                                                        ­                       but i promise not to hurt me
                                                              ­       just please promise not to hurt you
                                                             ­            i don't know how to love myself
                                                          ­                 but if you love me i'll love you.