Parents Friends Strangers

parents
friends
strangers

turn their watchful eyes
to my
scarred
cut
scratched
exterior

mouths sewn shut
against the words
that my just
encourage me to
lay down my weapon
and open myself back up to

parents
friends
strangers

refuse the possibility
that i may be

sick
deranged
depressed

deny the chance
that i may need

help
medicine
doctors

parents
friends
strangers

never take
notice
of the growing
scars

or maybe
they just
never cared enough to stop me.