Sunshine.

Smile. Smile like you've never missed happiness.
Smile like your mother never hurt you,

or your father never raised his hands.

Like all you've felt every time the sun shines is just peace.

Laugh at these parties, you look pretty.

All the wounds can wait for another day.

Don't choose for yourself again,

don't hurt the ones you've come to love.

And all these bathtubs and walls have become her person to lean to.

Your sister knows the hurt in your eyes.

Any day of the week, when she feels different

she tucks away her feelings in her coat.

They never taught her to feel peacefully.

Sunshine, we'll choose love for you.

She never hurt them even though she couldn't see past her swollen eyes.

Her tears weighed too much as she grew older.

Home has always been her anchor, 

but sometimes it would take her down.

All those band-aids did nothing.

These wounds open every time she got hurt.

Sunshine in the moon's darkness was her specialty.

Did they ever catch her breaking herself?

How could they have been so blindsided in her pain?

She knew her body would give up soon.

Yet she marched on so gracefully.

every time the words that cut her came back to life,

She'd remind herself of her strength.

her strength to not hurt who she loves. That she can take one more hit.

Her love was withering away,

she bloomed more and more flowers in her throat as time passed.

She thought about days where she'd stop,

when everything inside would. And she'd revive herself with her flowers.

Just for herself. And her walls would know her more than the ones she called home.

Conspicuous to her heart, she knew she loved them

No matter all the knives in her heart.

or how oblivious they are to her hurting.

She'll love them.

She's sunshine. The sun never burns out.

Not yet.