wince

i saw it.
her hand, your face.
i saw it and my
insides burned.

heart, throat,
breath, choke.
i couldn't
blink my eyes.

i saw it.
screamed in pain.
swallowed it down.
doubled over
inside.
but held my
head high.

i saw it.
felt my
exhale
crumble to
my toes.

i saw it.
you know that feeling when your heart stops and your insides can't get any smaller crumpled like discarded poetry a kick in the stomach amplified the twinge that gives you away when you are trying so hard to seem okay with it all and you can't even figure out how to stop it.

i saw it
and you won't
see me
again.