The tea is warm, and my voice jumps an octave higher.
I spit out the words; they fall on the floor.
Face flushing, breath getting out of control.
You stump on my pieces and you ask me for more.
I was confused at first, lost a year to dead ends.
My body came apart at the seams each night.
Even friends told me I should stop crying wolf,
Even books asked me if I thought I was right.
You had your time exploring, picking at my brain,
Making sure I stayed busy while you observed.
When the nagging feeling escaped from my lips,
You took less than a moment to call me absurd.
Your first mistake was choosing me as a target,
Your second mistake was leaving footprints on graves,
Your third mistake was making yourself a martyr,
Your fourth mistake was thinking I don’t play games.
The tea is cold, and my voice stays cool and low.
I let the words roll off my tongue and I watch you.
Face flushing, breath shaking, no hint of a smirk.
Don’t you beg for comfort,
Don’t you ask for rescue.
-Jackie
The Daily Writing of Jackie Wright 