I Scratch Her Back, She Tears Mine to Shreds

I tuck my Trauma into bed beside me,

Kiss her forehead and braid her hair

Nurture through reading her a nightly tragedy

I take great care of her, I swear

In return, she leaves bite marks on my neck

Jabs me in my side every time I try to trust

To me, she’s the universe; to her, I’m a speck

Of translucent nonsense, mere futile dust.

Engraved beneath my eyelids, it just won’t erase

She’s inscribed within my cyclic thought patterns

Realizing there is no fire escape in this burning place

Forever circling rings of regret, I tell myself they’re Saturn’s

Lace my corset with all the unsaid goodbyes

They strangle me, hold me tight

Restrict my breathing with unwarranted lies

Goodnight Trauma, goodnight.