The Bruise

In between the hues of purple, yellow, and brown, and in between the shallow breaths I take at the mention of your name, was always your knowing smile.

Shaking fingers counted the seconds it took remembering you again to trigger the pain long enough to bring about your jagged scar carved into my heart.

Don't you know my ache for you does the killing for me?

Dig into the mark hard enough, and I can feel you stealing the air out of my lungs every time I dream of you.

Your imprint was blunt with misplaced intention, and your love was deeper than any ocean we ever drowned ourselves in, but you needed to be my black and blue.

Please don’t stop hurting me now.

Leaving my skin void of your menacing touch, my lips cold without your hunger to devour them, or your ruthless heart to finish tearing at my wall of resistance, will only make room for new flesh to form.

Our paperback tragedy might have withered away with every goodbye, soaked in inconsolable tears of rage and sadness, but you and I and our stubborn love will never allow any other bruise to take your place.