curling into curtains

He cheated on her
with a girl of the same name.
Did you whisper it in her ear?
The way you do to me?
When you’re comforting me,
shushing me.
Slowly.
Slowly.
Slowly.
You soothe me.
 
He cheated on her.
A girl with red hair and loose lips.
Did it tickle your neck?
Did you bite hers?
With your whisky breath
and vampire teeth.
Sucking the life from my rotting cadaver
arranged beautifully on your bed.
 
You cheated on me.
So, why are your hands around my neck?
His face red.
Hers, blue.
Their kisses are not purple. 
 
He cheated on her.
So why do I say sorry?
When your slaps sting
and my body trembles.
I don’t love you.
But I tell you that I do,
over and over again.
To keep the bruises blue
 and not black.
 
You cheated on me.
And now her hands are above her head.
He’s fucking her
and she’s crying the secrets out into white sheets.
I say I love you.
You say my name.
Her name.
 
He cheated on her
and I wish you would do the same
again and again.
To every girl with my name.
Then she could stop curling into curtains
and signalling to the neighbours.
 
You cheated on me
with a girl who gave you
one night’s sleep.
And a lifetime of ease.