I sit there, in front of the mirror, doing my makeup.
Thinking, never again, will I make that mistake. 
I sit there in front of the mirror, covering the marks he left behind. 
Never again, will I date someone like him. 

Someone who hurt me, someone who abused me.
Pinned against the mattress, I fight to keep him out. 
Someone who hit me, and caused emotional trauma. 
Fighting back as fists fly, and barbed words sting my heart. 

I sit there, in front of the mirror, icing my bruising eye.
Thinking, never again, will someone touch me in that undesired way. 
I sit there in front of the mirror, dabbing my swollen, bloodied lip. 
Never again, will I allow the disrespect. 

Someone who wore a mask around my family.
Smiling, polite as can be whenever my mom came around.
Someone who touched my body in tender places. 
Never again, will I allow someone to hurt me.