Pawns

He said he valued me

as a teacher

to show him the path to intimacy

Something he always struggled with

*

He said he valued

my open mind

That I could think outside

of what society prescribed

*

He said he valued me

for my authenticity

My ability to own all parts of me

good, bad, and usually unseen

*

He said he valued me

for my silliness

The way I could make him laugh

through the words I'd say

*

Then it all changed

That's when I realized

the one who had been manipulating him

before I came along

projected her tactics onto me

to change his perception

*

He said he thought I was using

intimacy to manipulate him

to keep him hooked on a line as bait

*

He said he thought I was insular

That the way I thought of things

was narrow minded and foolish

*

He said he thought my vulnerability

wasn't authentic

That he was sure I was hiding things

*

He said he thought my words

brought him

nothing but pain

*

He seemed to forget

all the times

my words brightened his days

Amnesia of all the times

I was there to support him

*

It was then that I realized

that we were both

pawns in her chess game

*

It's always those

with pure hearts

who fall prey

to the narcissist's game

*

A game I refuse to play

I walk away humbly knowing

not all pawns make it out the game