◤l u k e◢:

    eyes cling to the branches that etch
      into her skin. flesh pink, puckered —
      he’s staring too long.

                what drills pain into his chest, however, are
                her words. they spike self-hatred, and whilst
                he’s aware his voice may not help, he still tries.

                  “  naomi— ”

     the name tips from under his breath. brows knot, worried, and
     fingertips extend to brush the soft flesh of her cheek. words 
     jumble in his mind, dissolve on his tongue. there’s a million things
     he wants to say, but he’s unsure if he should.

       “ don’t hate yerself… i mean, i
            know i wasn’t there, an’ i have 
            no idea what y’ went through,
            but… don’t hate yerself for
            doin’ that. ”

       eyes shut tight for a moment and curse words beat into his
        thoughts. he’s bad at this sort of stuff, always has been.

      words are stuck, helplessly, in her throat.
      this wasn’t her sister who’s seeing this; this
      isn’t the eyes she was comfortable being set on
      her scars; this was all new to her – and she’s
      s c a r e d.

                  will he judge? turn his back on her and just leave
                  like everyone else in her past did? think of her differently
                  than to what he thought she was? hazels stay low. dreading
                  to look back up to catch his expression being different; to an
                  expression she wished to never see.

            his touch sends chills through her skin;
            teeth biting into her bottom lip as her palm
            is raised to overlap the back of luke’s hand,
            a soft grasp. it was not fair on him – pouring
            out her problems onto him; how selfish she was.

      ❛ … i’m sorry ye’ had t’ see it… ❜