Truly

by Carmel Rhodes

Life is like a sink full of dirty dishes—you stick your hand in, and hope there isn’t a knife at the bottom.

“I hate you,” I spit, as he clicks the buckle in. “I don’t give a fuck,” he spits right back. “The pussy is just as good when you’re pissed as it is when you’re happy.”

“Then act like it,” I say, my backbone is finally making an appearance. “You want free rein over my body? Deserve me. You want to own me? Earn me. You don’t get to parade other girls in my face and then feign innocence. You want to keep doing fucked up shit to me? You want to keep using me as an outlet for your rage, then prove that I can trust you to lead me down that dark path. If you want me, if you want to possess me, then I get to possess you too.”

“I’m not your prince, Truly. Our story isn’t a fairytale. I don’t vow to always be kind, or do what the world deems as right, but I will always do right by you. I will always protect you. Plus,” he pauses, and I can feel the corner of his

“I like pain because I feel like I deserve it. You like inflicting pain because it gives you power.” “We’re both fucked in the head,” he grunts. I press my palm to his heart. It beats erratic and wild, broken like mine. “Maybe we’re fucked in the heart, too.”

life is messy.

growth didn’t come from avoiding those messy moments, it came from embracing them, learning from them, and knowing better the next time.

“Hoodies are for girlfriends. You can have it back when I can have you back.” Then, the fucking asshole stands up and saunters away.