i fall in love with hearts like mine
aching
stitched up with pins and needles
i stuff them like pillows with affection
but my brokenness leaves glass shards in their cozy cushions
they rip and tear
i sew them together with red and black thread
i cut my fabric heart open
to expose a fleshy, beating beast
and bleed out once more
to punish myself
for the damage i did
to their soft souls
