tattoos of pain

my body wears

a pattern of scars

as intricate as expensive lace.

my body is branded

by beautiful tattoos

of none other

than that of pain.

my body refuses

to be physically marked

by you, though,

so instead,

the imprint you left on me,

consists of scars

that hide behind

layers of my skull,

and threaten to let

my brain bleed out.