Empty Plate

listen, i know that most days

the dinner table is a minefield and

every step is a near miss or

a stumble and fall or

another bomb going off.

i know that safety is often

only found under the covers

with all the lights off.

i know how badly you want

to be anything less than this,

how it only feels okay when

the plate is as empty as you are and

you are more ghost girl than human.

let go of that dream about

the sugar plum girl who shrinks

into the tiniest swallow.

let go of the closet-sized skeleton

whispering that you

could be just like her.

let go of all of this letting go.

hold on, hold on, hold on.