every time I pierce your flesh

with my arrow

poison floods my body

as I hear it break your skin

I want to reach out

grab the arrow

and remove it

as if blood was never drawn

my impulse is drowned out

by the sensation

of burning up from the inside

my body saves me

and betrays me simultaneously

as I am pulled under

the surface looks like

melted glass from below

shapes and colors swirl together

bending light and shadow

the world I knew

is the same

the pain is still there

it dances in the sunlight

it radiates a warm glow

it fills the air

the water

my flesh

the burning shifts

my body sinks deeper

into the warm waters

it's too dark down here to see

I can only feel

the warmth turns hot

as it runs through

my past

searing my memories

with it's ruthless light

I hear my heart call to me

it whispers to let pain burn

to feel the past

with the lights turned on this time

you don't need your eyes to see

you just need to know when to shut them

eyes closed

I feel your heartache

I hear your story

I see my reflection

as I watch your painting dry

I remember myself

and I remember my power

my power to wound

and my power to love

but mainly

my power to choose

I choose to break the surface

to gasp for air

to pull myself out of my sorrow

and I choose to love everything

the air

the water

your flesh

and mine

I choose change

and I surrender to the grief

I am sorry that I drew your blood

visions of your liquid red life force

reduce me to ash

consumed by flame

I am reborn

but only after

I perish

I love you always,

xoxo alex