Tell Me Less

I remember the bridge.

The cool curve of concrete

Bending over midnight traffic,

Showing her panties to every driver

Willing to look up at the jumpers above.

.

I remember learning

That cruelty was a dagger

Made of ill intentions and ice.

I remember it sliding between ribs,

Piercing the warm chambers of my heart.

.

I remember the shock,

The ripples of pain moving

Through my chest and belly like

A monster planted there to devour me.

I wanted to dig the pain out of my bones.

.

I remember realizing

That you lived in my marrow

And that you didn't want me to see

Another dawn, another day, another dream.

You wanted me to jump off the side of that bridge.

.

And when you left,

Words lingering like smoke,

The appeal of the swan dive was gone.

It was tainted by your desire to see me hit

The concrete hard enough to make you smile.

.

I remember crying.

Staring at the moon, bleeding

The truth of the memory into a pillow,

Wondering how a lover could turn to a captor,

Chaining compassion to assault, love to cold cruelty.