i broke my fingers, crossing them-
hoping that your milky skin

wasn't too thin to resist his
hands becoming flat on it,

breaking it, breaking you.

"i'm sorry", i used to say and you said,
"no worries," you spoke,

"remember,

the world is your oyster."

"and you are the pearl", i added,
taking in your scent whilst
you breathed in the
salt of the river air

without a care,
rubbing the fabric of the clothes
covering your elbows.

who knows for sure,
but i suppose you chose for me to freeze

in that exact moment.

but trust me
i was already
frozen.