steady
flow of tongue,
red
sheets fly off
corners
touch
blistered lips.
blood runs,
enough to be a river
down the
valley of her belly
drowning.

admirable
tolerance, her
stained teeth
talking
sweetly,
hands abuse
love exists
but not enough
for you
to preserve her.
mouths brush
against each other
gone white
clasped fingers,
her lost breath
flooding from
blue cheeks,
gasping
until you  
let lungs continue.

she wouldn't be here
if death sounded
uncomfortable.
it
kills her
not to be your favorite.
if she has to
give it because
body
means everything,
if
beauty is obsolete
she will let you take
every day
this week
because
she's weak and
needy.
she
reapplies
clothing like routine
and locks the door
with her key
when leaving
but gets
no kisses
goodbye


why you don't feel bad?

in the unexpected safety of a club bathroom
i lean over the sink, hands damp, breath slow.
through the haze, i catch the girl next to me
i marvel at her bronze skin as she reapplies lipstick with precision
the same shade i wore minutes ago
i compliment her bracelet.
she smiles, thanks me.
i go back to the mirror, thinking that was that.

but then she taps my shoulder
and hands me a candy from the many in her bag
neatly wrapped, cherry flavored
“like my lip balm” i think
“like your lip balm,” she says as she smiled
and in that moment i almost cry
because how could a drunk stranger in a bathroom see me for me better than you ever had?

you tasted the cherry lip balm i love as you kissed me, so you bit my tongue to taste blood instead