Meeting the Shadow

By Gopika R

I sat down with my Shadow today 
I brewed her a cup of tea. 
She asked for whiskey—
neat. 

I gave her the stage, for once. 
Ravens perched on her shoulders,
Pomegranates staining her lips. 
Dark black hair that cascaded down to her hips—
The same hair I kept cutting 
To keep her quiet. 

She looked at me and sighed. 
“This,” she said,
gesturing to her body—
hips like defiance,
heels worn down from running,
nails crusted with blood
from hearts she never mourned—

“This is who you are.
I stopped bleeding for others.
Now I stop bleeding for you.”