do you even know?

I watch your face mold into someone unrecognizable.

You have barely lived two decades,

yet I can see the wrinkles carved into your skin.

You are decomposing.

I can see the decaying heart lying limply in your chest.

Why are you letting yourself die?

You are allowing abusive words to riddle your ears.

Allowing dull daggers to pierce your heart until it has no will to beat.

You say you take life one day at a time;

some days are good and some are bad.

But we both know you don’t keep score.

Your clothes used to be tight.

Your lips used to hold a smile.

And had skin so smooth that words simply rolled off you.

Now you no longer live for yourself.

You live for the satisfaction of a man who does not cherish you;

one who does not love or embrace your unique qualities.

He ripped them from your mind and smashed them under his feet,

and left you an empty shell to live in.

No more thoughts for yourself,

no more nights of rest,

or a life full of love.

You are now a caged animal,

and there is no room on the streets for you.

Your mind is a danger to him,

for you may realize he doesn’t deserve you.

So you must stay locked away,

where the word ‘no’ does not exist,

and permission is an illusion.

Where opinions can only mirror his.

There is only one key to this cage,

and you have it.

So why will you not free yourself?

Do you not know that you have been trapped?

Or has your unconditional love blinded you from the truth?

Tell me,

Do you enjoy your prison?

Or do you imagine it is not there?

One day, perhaps, you will realize your value.

I hope that you do.

I hope that you escape.

Because I no longer recognize you.