i spoke the words
i knew would cut deep
and though she bared her teeth
to hide the hurt
i saw her tired eyes dilate
and i knew i had wounded something
that she would lock away
and look at again
and let it harden
herself somehow
so that when she cut
i would not find the heart to heal
my anger spent
and regrets blurted
two clammy hands blotting her tears away
she gives away no sign of forgiving
she only mouths the words
while her eyes cloud over