Abusive

Persistent love forces reciprocation.
(When the phone flashes with
Thirteen missed calls, I wince.)

Between the biology lessons,
And assemblies about the
Dangers of illegal drug use,
They don’t teach you that sometimes
Violence and abuse can disguise itself
As passion,
And intense loyalty can quickly
Turn to entrapment. 

You kissed my bruises;
The blood from my wounds
Transferred onto your lips
And swam between the cracks. 
(You didn’t mean to hurt me, I know,
I should not have provoked you.)

Despite the endless talks about
Safe sex,
They don’t tell you that 
When he forces himself on you
Begging for your submission,
Even though you agree in the end,
There was nothing safe about that. 
The late-night tears are testimony. 

The typical doting boyfriend,
Friends say ‘oh, he’s a keeper!’
And, ‘if only I found him first!’
(I blink back tears when they ask
About the fresh cuts by my temple.)

Pythagoras and trigonometry 
Cannot help me solve this problem.

We lie in bed together. 
You stroke my hair. 
I stare at the clock and
Wait for your gentle touch
To turn heavy, as you find
Another reason to leave your mark
On my already-printed skin.  
(I never asked for your love,
But you chose me, 
And now there is nowhere to run.)