Briar Patch

You lured me to the edge of the forest.
You nudged my feet close to the path.
“I shouldn’t be here” I whine.
“I said I wasn’t coming back, remember?”
You insist its not the same and if I only look closer,
I’ll see its different.
Peering, I step on the path.
Stepping slow with the vague notion of impropriety.
Its dark and exotic, dangerous maybe.. definitely different.
Thrilling, exhilirating and good in a way I can’t define.
Caught up in this high I walk deeper into the trees.
Clouds filling my eyes I’m giddy
having given in completely to this place.
Soaring along on a roller coaster in this moment
and in the next screaming.
The hot, burning pain of a thorn piercing my skin.
Piercing my world as tears wash the fog from my eyes.
The world shimmers, then shatters to reveal it’s true self.
A thick, dusty old briar patch, ominous and rank.
A path worn smooth from so many trips before.
I sigh in defeat remembering all the times I’ve traveled this path.
Each time believing you when you said it was different.
Each ending to the journey is always the same.
Me, here in this shitty place of shame and disgust,
staring at the ever growing pile of my sins.
Wishing I was done with this place once and for all.
Wondering why you hate me so much to keep bringing me back.
Each trip down the path a transgression to add to the pile.
What long forgotten insult or injury are you avenging?
What hurt are you trying to heal?
Why do I fall for your lies time and again?
I’m filled with questions, standing here alone.
Secretly relieved there is no mirror here to give me the answers.