Warning: This work has been rated 18+ for language.
he needed help.
how could no one see
his penetrating bones and the
unyielding complaints of hunger?
deny. deny. deny.
“i’m alright,” he says
while he shivers in perfect weather.
i noticed the marks of his monster’s grip,
and i did something
only to cry for him when he denied again.
this illness reaches in to help
and then tears flesh apart with ice cold hands.
he's in control of everything
until he's not.
deflect. deflect. deflect.
he puts up a front, but i know
he looks at his reflection
and sees his mortal enemy he cannot get away from.
maybe i bit off more than i could chew
because i know he won't.
he doesn’t want help, i know the mindset all too well;
i share the pain.
cry. cry. cry.
i have to turn away because it hurts me to see him.
what am i supposed to do?
watch him like a sick animal, killing himself slowly?
he’s in the depths of self destruction,
like sticking a fork into a socket,
and expecting fireworks.
avoid. avoid. avoid.
i was a danger to his twisted progress.
as they say, “you can’t help someone who doesn’t want help.”
but, just because you can endure something
does not mean you must withstand it.
i’ll go on record to be the first to say sorry, but just hear me out.
he may have lost all hope, but i haven’t.
and in the end, i’d do it all again to make sure he’s alright.
maybe they’ll all leave him alone, but not me.
if they won’t help, those friends don’t love him.
i put our relationship on the line,
and ended up fucking myself over when i confessed
that i understand anecdotally.
but i’d rather be fucked than to see my love die in his own arms.
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140,280 Literary Works • 673,071 Reviews
The meaning behind this relates to many people who have destroyed themselves in order to keep others happy, they put themselves through so much pain that they destroy themselves in the process, its never a good thing to die in your own arms, it just means that you refuse help because you've endured it for years on end, i understand the meaning behind this because i am one of the ones who destroys themselves to keep others happy.
I enjoyed this one, I could just see the images playing in my head.
One thing I would say that would make this story more... character? I'm not sure of the right word. But I suggest indenting during certain parts to mean something, you know? If you've ever read "Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds and you read the author's notes and questions he explains how where each of the words are has a meaning or just adds flare.
Overall this story was enjoyable. It also makes you feel something, or at least it made me feel something. Keep up the good work! I'll be sure to look out for your work.
I hope my partner doesn't do this to themselves due to my own bad behavior. I appreciated the repeated use of a verb almost to break up each stanza. There's a narrative with some decent imagery, but part of me wishes it was more grounded in details to create a background for what's transpiring to give context.