Secrets

"Tell me your darkest secrets"
He whispered.

But she knew the truth.
He knew nothing
Of the demons
That prowled her veins,
Itching to be set free.
And though he asked for dark secrets,
He wanted the illusion-
The illusion of bravery,
Of his willingness to fight
For her.

But he knew nothing
Of the beasts that lurked beneath
Her skin.
He knew not
That he could never
Hope to slay
The very beast he now called for.

And with a brave face,
She smiled.
Because wasn't that it,
What they always wanted,
An answer to absolve them,
And put their minds at ease.

His answering smile spoke volumes.
And she felt another ember
From deep within her
Spark to life.

How many times
Had people asked her to burn
Just to keep themselves warm.
Yet no one,
At least not genuinely,
Offered her a fire of her own.

But that was the truth,
The one the monsters knew:
She would always put others first,
Until one day,
There would be nothing left.

And even then,
What a disappointment she would be.
For they'd make mention
Of all of those smiles
That hid the pain and fear.
And they'd call her a coward.

When what they didn't know,
Was that every day she fought
That silent battle deep within herself.
And every flame she gave off
Was the burning of her soul,
Her last bit of light.

Until one day,
That darkness would creep in,
Those demons finally free,
And no one would care enough,
Or know enough,
To be able to save her then.