// Small Love

My love for you
is not humongous.
No.
Not huge,
or even big.

It's close to the size
of emoji hearts,
sticky notes,
lipstick stains,
passwords, and
custom packed lunch boxes.

It's small. Very.
Honey,
it's exactly the size
of that tan line
your wedding band
leaves on your hand.

-

She stands before me,
draped in a delicate,
sheer nightie that barely
conceals her figure.

Her tan lines are faintly visible,
highlighting the contrast

-

Her perfect tan skin always amuses,
She chooses a dress that will hide the bruises,
Walking down the street with unbreakable grace,
No one knows about the torture she has to face,
She watches the clock with a sad broken face,
when someone approaches.. the smile is back in place,
When she meets him it is impossible to smile,
He breaks her body & spirit in such a violent style,
Her eyes started watering.. knowing what is to come,
Just imagining the bloody mess she wants to become,
He lays her down and painful string returns,
No matter how many times it happens.. it still burns,
It continues for an hour and then it comes to end,
She wakes up next morning and ready to pretend,
That she's perfect and she's okay,
She feels she would collapse under the strain,
She heads out the door repeating the cycle again.

-

She signed the papers. Changed her postal address. Removed the ring. The tan line remained.

-

Tan lines are a proof of an amazing vacation.

-