Rachel

You are wasting away
and there is nothing I can do
but watch.

This parasitic idea
that infects your mind
is eating away at your body,
and no amount of
crying
or yelling
or threatening
will make it go away

And so I wait for the day,

That I hear through the grapevine

That you’ve been swept away in the wind

Your bird bones lifting you from me

Weightless at last

Once upon a time,
I was almost there.
I almost let the mirror control me
I almost pitted my mind against my body
I almost destroyed myself.
And now I see the same
shame, fear,
deadly determination
in your eyes
and I'm scared.

Because I was able to combat my thoughts
and turn things around before I spiraled.
But it almost broke me.
And you are so young and fragile,
and I'm afraid you will crumble to dust.