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Sleeping. You looked like a true work of art. Your eyelids twitched as you’d dream

Your mouth pulled tight at the ends

I played with the ends of your brown curls. Your nose twitched as you’d go to rub it with the back of your hand

Your breathing was shallow and slow. I ran my calloused fingertips over your jawline gently

It’s the moments like this that I cherished

I would shrink into the bed when you’d awake. Your eyelids fluttered open and scanned the room, as if to see if you recognized it

You’d lower your dark toffee brown eyes to me and smile. I’d smile back out of pure love

Then my phone would vibrate-

Your eyes turned from soft to hard within seconds

You’d pin me down and grab my phone. Scanning it with your eyes, searching

You would yell in my face, asking

Who was texting me. Why were they texting me. What did they want

When I couldn’t answer you’d grab me by my hair and ask again, Louder

The tears would prick my eyes. You didn’t care, you kept going

Suddenly my cheek felt hot, I gasped

Your eyes dulled for a second, your grip loosened. Apologies flowed from your mouth, you embrace me

It will never happen again. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it

I believed you

I would tangle my fingers into your hair and hold you tight

Until you were calm again

But it was only the beginning

It went from being monthly, to weekly, to daily

It went from a slap to a kick to a punch

I told my friends the bruises were from clumsy accidents

They believed me because you convinced everyone of how charming you were

It got worse and worse. Then to none

You left me, without a trace

Heard you were a cheat, Doesn’t matter to me

At least I’m not getting beat