I was at the same time the best
and the worst
I felt myself torn apart
My bottom half was theirs
and my top was his
and he would stroke my hair
whilst they dug their nails
into the skin around my ankles
and in the moment when I’d look up
and see him staring down
I’d feel that wordless adoration
before their claws once more
plucked my toenails from my feet
and crawled up my legs
used knives to scar me
each one on each
So I found it hard to balance
with such a mess at my feet
Maybe I had to give up that part of me for him
I would give up anything for him.