I am not afraid of you.
Sit across from me and bare your teeth
all you like.
I'm not going to move.

I am done with whispering the
truth.
I am done with secrets.
Take my body,
finger by finger and
don't you dare bring me back.

You know, I never cared
about the bruises.
You didn't hurt me with the scars.
I was always the sky
I was always raining
I was the pink of evening
And I was only sore about what I might
miss later.

My life was fast in that
one hour, and I had time to think through
all of this
as I lay there.
It was a gathering of moments
of memories.
It was my final hour, my finest
show.

I knew myself then.
Really, truly
finally.

It was stunning.
I was beautiful.