They see a tall man

No one particularly special

They see brown eyes

They see black hair

They see a simple smile

Your hands

Your feet

Your ears

Your nose

 

I see a looming monster

Someone filled with meaning

I see the hatred swimming dangerously in those muddy eyes

I see the dark mess of hair I could often find shading my own eyes

I see the malevolent intentions behind that shady smirk

The hands that left the bruises and scratches

The feet that plowed into my torso again and again

The ears that tuned out my pleas for help

The nose that ignored the stench of blood swirling in the air

 

They see a happy couple

They see a little hickey on my neck

They see us holding hands

They see you whisper in my ear

They see you gaze longingly into my eyes

They see you wipe away my tears

They see love

 

I see a broken relationship

I see a bruise from your fists

I see you crushing my fingers, leaving fingerprints on my wrists

I see you whisper insults and threats in my ear

I see you wait for an empowering reaction from me

I see you trying to keep me from making a scene

I see fear

 

They saw a girl

You saw new victim

And now

I see truth