pulled muscle.

"did someone hurt you?"

of course...

to ask that of anyone

is most often

an attempt

to figure out why

they are acting as they do

to find reason

to somehow

validate

the obvious

fear

pain

indifference

apathy

they so often display
the heart

is a muscle

and at some point

it will hold too much weight

fatigue

sprain

get ripped

and burn

like any other muscle

but to ask why

will never provide

the answers you seek

never

we get broken

we experience failure

it all gives in

but it's no excuse

true

we will try

to avoid it

to prevent it

just as we keep our fingers

away from flames

because it hurts

because it hurts so badly

that we cannot forget

or forgive

and then

of our own doing

the pain lingers on

and we regress

we cut off

and shut down

and out

but that never really works

does it?

so now

the blinders are on

and the mask is firmly in place

and we are not ourselves

from these points on

until we aren't even sure

who we are

or what we truly want

anymore

can't live like that

i can't

i won't

what i will do

is ask:

"did someone love you?"