i start out looking at myself in the broken mirror
i tell myself that i'm ok
and to try not to worry
i tell myself that i'm alone in my head
the lie bounces off the cracked surface and hits my face
my eye closes over and a tear of blood rolls down my cheek
i tell myself that i'm being paranoid
and this one hits me in the mouth
i gag as the taste of blood catches the back of my throat
it tells me to stop
but it's incomprehensible
the words keep hitting me - getting harder
until i manage to force my eyes open
and see
it's not my reflection