Stumbling with unfeeling feet,

Eyes that could not see,

Habitually to repeat,

Sold out to wanting,

I blame myself for wanting.

Debased, innocence erased,

Never the same…gone…so gone…

Forever maimed.

Made the mark of ridicule

Cracking them up and me in two.

I saw the staring sneering,

I would not ever be safe again.

In an instant I stopped believing

Forever hotly branded,

Searing laughter

Chased me away

From their condemning eyes.

Then guarded by shame,

I knew I could never cry,

Trapped in a hard, cruel lie,

Saw no light outside

My prison wall.

Divided in two, I never knew

I could be worthy of loving you.

I learned the stony road

And what it means for a soul to die.

— Shelly the Abused