rather bear pain in silence
she sees through lie anyway
clever moonlight
always sees
fingers trace edge of mask
where metal meets mutilated flesh
i flinch back
a low growl tells her no
not a threat
but a plea
she pauses
lowers her hands
"I won't take it off," she promises.
i pause
i wait
she reaches up again
touch so light
barely there
but burns
everything burns
except her
she is cool
is soothing
is peace
have never known peace before her
stone walls press in
too close
too dark
cannot see sky here
cannot see real moon
