10th May, 2026

BY Lily Starling Eldridge

<aside> 🔖 reflections on how tenderness can coexist with humiliation.

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party lights flicker as my vision dims words drop like acid on my skin sinking in, i start to feel sick the shame you spilled always sticks. i’m happy you’ve never been burned before. introduce me to a stranger tell an “inside” joke that left me exposed then wonder why i left without a word i’d rather be the one hurting.

when your lips begin to part it’s either a black hole or a spark but your shoulder is softer than your words are sharp and your laughter so sweet when it’s not cutting deep so i believe you didn’t mean what you said to me the truth was never fitting for you anyways.