feed

they fed off of us

when we were the weakest

they scorched us with their fire

when we were made

just of thin paper

we thought we were strong

but with every blow

they reached our insides

further and further

so instead of fighting

we caved in even more,

they feasted off of us

as if we were the best prey

for a midnight treat

they devoured our strength

our passion consumed,

our faith in happiness

gulped to the last drop

we let ourselves be eaten

because that was the only thing

that could have made us

feel whole again

better, improved

in someone else’s mind

someone else’s heart

we were wrong

when we let them

feed off of us

we just wanted a home

to sink in our roots

instead,

we got

consumed

in our own fears

***