You are all the quiet questions I never ask myself
you are all my worries and all my fears
you are all my love and all my happiness
you are all I know

There is nothing before you
and nothing behind you
you stand untouched by everything
history or desire
untouched but afraid

I have fingers black as coal
no heart and no soul
I am empty of caring
rocks for bones and brains
I am ugly inside and hiding

I have kept you here too long
promising you more than I could ever afford to give
lying with a tongue as silver as the sea
holding you with clear eyes and bloody hands

But you
beautiful you
stronger than I could have known
have shaken loose from my serpent's song
broken whatever magic that held you here
and you have run

I cannot find you
where I kept you for so long
you have hidden yourself in shadows so deep
that you are indistinguishable from the night

If you could cure me with a kiss, would you touch me?
If you could break me and end this pain, would you do it?
If you could teach me to breathe again, would you stay?

If you are not too far gone yet
if you are still listening in the shadows
take pity on a monster
and love him one more time

AcB 10.06.01