clothes drop to the floor
pool around ankles
shaking, heart thrumming

bruises hidden
scratches hidden
bites hidden
second skin in a bottle

jets of water
quiet thunder on the tile
slippery bath surface
slump against the wall

i hate you seeing me like this

shh, darling, i don't mind

arms slide over hips
mouth slides over neck

threads of water paint the walls
bleeding down the drain
and dying

cold fingers curl around skinny wrists
clinging to everything
you are everything

the soap doesn't sting
but it hurts
chest tight and breathing shaky

are you okay?

i hate you seeing me like this

foundation swirls down the drain
i try not to cry
please don't look

raw fingernail scratches
purple framed teeth rings
blue-black shadows of bruises
the decorations of a fighter

i hold my stomach
you hold my hands

mouth graces over broken skin
fingertips ghost over jawline
water droplets, crystalline on my eyelashes
mingling with my tears

pastel eyes
you're the strong one
and now you're crying too

i hate you seeing me like this