The clawing
never ends.

The fingernails digging
into my skin,
the lips whimpering
against my flesh,
the hands grappling
my teeth.

They always want something,
they always take something,
and they leave me
bare bones
and threadbare,
a skeleton
with nothing more to give.

I want to give them everything,
my flesh, my blood, my mind, my eyes,
my left arm and right leg.
I want them to stop
stop
pleading,
begging,
taking,
needing.

The clawing
never ends.

And I want to scream.