My love was your IV bag
for replenishing your confidence
and reinforcing control

You mainlined my empathy
my desire for reciprocity
and established a satisfying home

My compassion became your approval
to erode my dignity
and self-worth

Every day was a web laced with gasoline
a smolder of desire
and isolating hope

My helplessness was your nourishment
a feast of my weakness
picking the bones of my soul

You stole every moment available
throwing tantrums of demands
and scraping at my empty cup

My strength became your biggest fear
so I closed our chapter of the horror
and proved I could survive alone