How did she let this

happen again?

This no holds, heart-giving,

soul-depleting

love of shadows?

What was it about him

that called her to heal

in jagged

uneven pulls

of scar tissue?

Where did her sense

of survival go

as she was bleeding?

Why did she welcome

the damage of his heart

into her own?

What is it about her

that needs to heal another

when it cannot be done?

When she is gasping

her last breath?

What was it she saw

in the child of him

that held her

steadfast

in spite of everything

that came from him

slicing her

to the bone,

a thousand subtle

paper cuts

causing the slow and agonizing

death

of anything possible

between two

damaged hearts?

What was it about him

that called her?

Why did she answer?