LOVING YOU MADE MY BROTHER CRY
because he knew that i was good at trying on a love that was never meant for me
"no, i feel the love!" i would tell him when he held my hand in sugarcoated doubt. the roof of my mouth scorched from eating your lies too soon and my brother could see the smog venting out the gaps between my teeth
and later that night, he braided my hair
"can't you see it doesn't fit?" and pinned a pearled barrette on the side of my crown as he drenched my bangs in tears
