I'm thinking too much to sleep again. The house is dark, and my room is dark, and my head is dark. It's all so dark.
I remember when I was little, and the games that were played, the stories we invented. We were everything we needed to be, doctors, police, firefighters, superheroes, vampires, knights, queens, witches, animals. Whatever play required us to be, we were. We changed our roles faster than others in the playground could keep up with, we broke the rules, we invented new rules, we ran and jumped and laughed. We stomped off when a queen decided she was also a witch, or the vampire didn't die when the knight shoved a wooden air-stake through his heart, wherever our six year old minds assumed a heart was. Playing pretend made us and broke us. We were everything that was required, and what was required was everything we were.
I still like to pretend. I've grown to be too good at it. I think I'm better at playing pretend than not pretending. I could pretend whatever was required. I pretended that you weren't still his. That his handprints weren't all over you, in the night-time places. That his fingers had never run through your hair, or touched your lips. That you had never allowed him everything, and looked into his eyes, and told him you loved him. Because then what i was feeling wouldn't be wrong, because then i'd be playing by the rules.
I pretended I hadn't loved him once too, that it hadn't destroyed everything. And blasted everything I had built away in one great big wave. I pretended I hadn't fallen on my own sword, that it hadn't slipped up through my chest, my lungs, my heart. I pretended he'd understand, that he'd give his blessing, that he wouldn't care. I pretended he'd just offer his easy smile, and bound on, further up and farther in. The way he does. I don't blame him. I don't hate him. I just want him to forgive me for everything. I wish I hadn't made him cry, that I hadn't been angry. I pretended everything would be ok.
I pretended you'd grab my hand, that time in the half-dark of the cinema, when I wanted you to so badly I thought my chest would explode. I pretended that you'd take my hand, and that everything would be sweet pink bursts. I pretended one day you'd wake up, and realise you wanted me. That all along, I had lived in your heart, occupying somedark corner of a ventricle. I pretended one day your lips would touch mine, and that your tongue would pass between my teeth. I pretended I couldn't remember the dreams, when you tumbled into me, and I could feel your heat. I pretended I couldn't remember how you tasted, or how your skin smelt, or how I kissed your eyelids once you'd fallen asleep. I pretended the dreams weren't all I'd ever have.
I don't pretend for you anymore. I'm done. You changed the rules too much, and I was left behind. You brought in a new character that I couldn't fathom. We went to the woods. There was no bear's house. No Granny's house. No wolf. No teddy bear's picnic. No spaceships or castles or magical pools. There was someone else there. You did things in the dark of the woods with that person, and you glowed the next day. Like this confirmed who you were. You shone so brightly. I was left with the dark of the woods in my head, and I couldn't bear to look at you. You were shinin so brightly from where I was standing. And all the jealous gnawing voices wondering: Why didn't you pick me?
And I could pretend I didn't understand. I could pretend I didn't know that this means you don't even consider me worthy of a drunken fumble in the woods. I could pretend this doesn't mean I'm alone, very very alone. I could pretend this doesn't make me a shit friend. I could pretend this doesn't mean you won't love me one day, like I loved you for so very long. I could pretend I could be happy one day.
Pretending is for kids, and playtime's over.
These words always would remind me of you:
"You're more than just okay.
You're perfect."
Now this reminds me of you:
"whore."