How to vanish by appeasing a predator

It's a pretty simple recipe really.

Just say yes - yes yes yes...

Smile always - do not dare frown

Do not have unique feelings or opinions

(Not unless they match mine exactly of course)

Always always always say sorry (especially when it is not your fault)

Begging forgiveness gets you extra brownie points

(especially when you did nothing wrong)

And altering the parts of your personality that make you shine, that make you strong,

Well, that's the cherry on the cake for me.

Get rid of your strengths, your passions, your connections

The more you shrink,

The more you vanish.

The smaller YOU become

And the bigger I become!

Until it is as if you are not even a person who is separate from me

You are merely a reflection of me and my wants

An extension of my insecurities and desires

How dare you defy me?

By not disappearing?

You do as I say,

And get as small and weak as I need you to be;

Keep smiling

Keep nodding

Swallow my lies

Keep looking in my eyes

And tell me you love me

THAT is how you vanish

Let me conquer you,

All in the name of love.