tell me a lie and i'll still love you.

fingertips lace around ribs
and dance along fragile arms
enough to be felt but not to break.

every touch is a gentle lie that says i love you.
sinking through layers of skin, muscle
and striking the bone with a cold pleasure
that clasps around your heart.
 
heart beats ebb, along with movement and time.
breaking away isn't an option,
maybe it never was... maybe it never will be.
not again
not ever

take control of trembling hands,
hold them tight and  hold them still.
send those tremors internally bound,
and turn them into butterflies.

then fight against the abdominal pull.

fight against flying away.


and falling apart.