My tears sizzled on my cheeks

and evaporated into the air

thick with words unspoken.

I clenched my jaw

like all the things I couldn’t say

would scorch my face

if they escaped on a careless breath.

I bit my tongue so hard

that my mouth burned

with the taste of copper,

the two cents I wanted to give

boiling at my teeth.

I parted my lips

ready to spit lava in your direction

if only to let off some steam.

But I refrained

again,

as always.