The scars he covers

are everywhere

on his body, in his mind,

marring his heart

he cannot love

A drunken papa, a dead mama,

a beaten, despondent, lonely son

only sixteen and already grown

smiling through pain and the voices

that tell him

to die

She seemed to him

a mere reminder of his pain

Happy, energetic,

loving, kind,

what he wanted to be but could not be

there were too many scars

He hated her

she loved him

he would not let her love him

Old friendship gone and dead

buried under the scars

he was broken

She prays for him but denies it

afraid of what he'll say

He knows she prays but denies it

afraid that smile will go away

Another drunken night

another leather belt

another bleeding boy

sobbing on the floor

He curses God for letting this happen

he curses his mother for leaving them

he curses her for not trying harder

to break through his walls

and let him cry

and wipe away his tears

and hold him in a warm embrace

but still, he pushes her away

He cannot cover the scars anymore

and puts the gun up to his head

shaking hands, beating heart, heaving breath

his phone rings

it's her

She screams his name through the phone

telling him to answer her

he doesn't

he cries

and tries to pull the trigger

but he can't

her smile will go away forever if he does

Years have passed and these two

first friends, then enemies, now lovers

are together at last

dreams fulfilled

scars long healed

The scars he covers

have all been healed

clean body, clear mind,

pure heart

he can love