Blood and bruises

We grew up on late-night secrets

Cigarette laughs, borrowed shoes

You held my hand like a brother

But you knew me better than truth

Same streets, different last names

Same scars we don’t explain

I learned how to breathe in silence

Watching you drown in the rain

They say blood don’t lie

But neither do tears at 3 a.m.

If family’s chosen, then you’re mine

Even when we’re at our end

You’re my blood and bruises

My best friend, my kin

We break each other open

Just to let the dark back in

If the world comes swinging

I’ll stand where you fall

You’re not just a friend to lose

You’re my sibling after all

You steal my clothes like a sibling

Steal my pain like a friend

We fight like we’re strangers

Then swear we’ll never end

Mama said “watch your mouth”

When I screamed your name

But you know my worst habits

And love me the same

We don’t say “I need you”

We just stay when it hurts

Laugh through the wreckage

Put our love in reverse

You’re my blood and bruises

My best friend, my kin

We break each other open

Just to let the dark back in

If the world comes swinging

I’ll stand where you fall

You’re not just a friend to lose

You’re my sibling after all

If you leave, I lose my mirror

If I fall, you feel it too

Every cut I try to hide

Bleeds louder when it’s you

We’re stitched together crooked

By history and choice

I hear myself in your silence

I hear you in my voice

Maybe love ain’t gentle

Maybe it’s just real

Hands shaking, hearts heavy

But we never kneel

You’re my blood and bruises

My war, my home

The only one who knows me

Even when I’m alone

Let the world call it chaos

Let it call us wrong

You’re my friend, my family

My always, my song

Same heartbeat, different skin

If I’m lost, you’ll find me then

Friend by fate, sibling by soul

We survive what breaks us whole