and i have to ask -

when you venture into the
sunshine, white-hot at high noon,

does it hurt? do you feel it?
the shame, the burn of what you've done?

because i do. i do.

i feel it like you feel that
niggling sense of betrayal, the
loss of that self-confidence. the
lack of the pity you crave, crave.

i feel it like you feel the
strain of losing that safety net,
all the people who caught you and
cradled you in their exhausted arms.

and god, i hope you feel it too.
more than anything, i hope you
feel the sun beating down on you
as you try to sleep away the day.