I hope you don’t mind but I want you to know I’ve never doubted your self restraint

"what the fuck did she do to you?"

I have screamed

even though I know

the exact placement of

your scar tissue

what I need you to understand is

you are a work of art

I have traced your bone structure

I have felt your muscles ripple

the vulnerability in your strength

is outlined in your eyes

and your back has been painted

with constellations of freckles

but only on half your body

separated by your spine and

I wonder if the other half feels

empty and I wonder if it was

your left or your right

the first time and I wonder

if you heard his words

or if you've only heard them

recounted

in her tear streaked voice and

I wonder

how you breathe sometimes 'cause

I've felt your lungs collapsing and

I've watched your pulse

spike when he is mentioned

you're so defensive

but terrified

I know you have a

backbone

I've traced it more times

than I can remember but I think

you're afraid

it has a mind of its own

you reassure me that you will

never hurt me but I never

had that fear I think you're

just trying to convince

yourself