Nails

His silence hammers nails into my ears
Picking apart what I said earlier
Vodka deluded my brain
My insides spewed into a toilet bowl
Hair wrapped up behind me
The shame blanketing my body

He’s giving up on me
As he should
Friendly, casual conversation at the bar with a stranger
Equation for my disaster
He sees the bruises and hand marks
Imprinted on me forever

I’ve been gone for awhile
Late nights and drunk driving
The wood floors screaming I’m home at 3am
Another person left their presence in me
He turns away and leaves me on the floor

My apologizes are hollow
Hanging in the air like my infidelity
Slivers of his patience disappear
Like my integrity and decency

I pry the nails out of my ears
Toss them aside next to me
Extinguishing all his love
Like a finished cigarette
He said I used to be easy to love
But not like this 

Mia Amore Del Bando was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She is a Los Angeles based flight attendant. Her profession allowed her to travel to several countries and practices her independence wherever she goes. “Lilac Rain and V-Day” debuted in “The Art of Everyone”, an online literary journal. She is a faithful friend, difficult daughter, and selfish lover.