i’ve been deeply hurt so often
that the wounds have never truly had time to heal
i have scars on top of scars
most of them visceral, rather than on the surface
perhaps that’s how i hide the pain so well
since the damage isn’t visible

i know that it’s possible to die of a broken heart
but somehow i remain intact
if only i could be so lucky

confined to the spaces
in the places of my mind
that remind me of ancient memories
replaying time after time
the hurt, the guilt, the anger
boiling up in me from deep within
flooding through my veins
got me clawing at my skin
fighting to control the tide
but nearly drowning almost every time

why won’t anyone hear my cries?