Single digits. 11 of them. I have them memorized. All numbers somehow arranging themselves in an order to make it into yours-- topple each over, they will. Why must I hold back? Why must I not speak my mind? It's full of you, so full, there's barely any space left for me. There's no other way I'd have it, sunshine. Come on now,

Closer,

Closer,

Closer.

Leave no space. Look at this now, how untouched this skin is. It might swell, it might shrivel, it knows not, teach it. Every inch of it, teach it. My compassion is spilling, tell me when it threatens to drown you. Aren't you empty? Come empty, my love. I'll fill you up. Let me love you like you've never been loved before. Say it. Say the word and you'll see the dedication you didn't know existed on Earth. Humans are incapable of it, it's true but I barely qualify, don't I? You said it yourself. I remember it and the sound of my hearty laugh followed by it. I'll give you what you want, you know I can. Does that scare you, perhaps? My blazing eyes? My hands already reaching for you? Will you crumble at the hand of all this tenderness? Am I coming off too bold? Shameless? I care not, little one.

Make your mind up. Make your mind fast. I'm waiting. I am still waiting, smiling at your mixed signals taking a step back with each of those towards the exit. Say it; say the word, say the word, say the word. Tell me to stay and I will. I know how to. I know it better than you. Come on now, this can work, don't make me exit the exit, they've got knives the size of my forearms. Come on, now, my poorly, hasty stitched scars will split open. Oh, they will. They are. Keep looking, don't you avert your eyes. This is how a woman falls, breaks and comes undone. See it? Now you know.

I snicker on my way out, my teeth sharper, my grip gentler. You saw it coming. You say you knew this all along. I move on in a flash. I fall again just the same. For someone else this time. You're still around, witnessing it all. This time you can't take your eyes off of me as I do the things I did for you, now for someone else. I'm unattainable and irresistible. What is it? These clandestine advances and undying desire for something you can't have? Don't you see I've run out of the love I had for you, I'm concrete now. Only for you, honey. Only for you.

Don't blame me now, it runs in my genes. I was born this way. I can only love something till it is requited. I can't keep eating out of an empty plate, now can I? My own parents detest me, honey. I've never loved them back for it. Interesting how I'm filled with love more and more when someone refuses to. I absorb their nothing and create everything. Fear me now, didn't you say I intimidate you?

You might want to think, you might want to contemplate the honey dripping traps before you glance at me a second time. You might want to remember the next time you read the letters that form my name-- I'm absolutely feral when it comes to matters of love and hate. It's all red.