When I Asked You What Love Is, You Told Me This
By Natalia Vela
i’m thinking about that time you told me you love me
and i asked you what love is
and you said it’s this.
and i’m wishing i could see you now,
wishing i could kiss you now,
sink my teeth down into your bottom lip now,
wishing i could throw my fists into your chest now.
this.
nights we kept hidden,
nights i gave you my love,
nights i wished this was something we could have said out loud.
this.
nights i laid in the dark,
nights she was in your arms,
nights i cried because you couldn’t touch me.
this.
exchanging the things you weren’t willing to give me
with your favorite three words: i miss you.
this.
the times i’d miss the bruises
from your vehement touch
because it’s all that i had left of you.
this fucking explosion,
fucking burning from a fire you set.
this.
the times you didn’t stick around
to watch me burn,
to watch me bleed.