In the temple of fire

Pride:

And who are you to say

that my suffering is lesser than yours?

That my pain has a limit …

and yours somehow exceeds mine?

Perhaps,

if you acknowledged my suffering,

by owning your mistakes,

we could finally move on.

Suffering:

What!?

You ask me… to do the same?

Why?

For what?

This problem … this burden …

presented itself to me.

I am already condemned in chains,

starving for love,

for compassion.

And yet,

I will fast …

go on a hunger strike of the heart …

if my pain is not recognized

by the one I love.

You were made to protect me.

But who protects you,

Pride?

Pride:

Are you saying…

that I am the one

who brought this pain upon us?

That I…

was the one who opened the door?

No.

It’s them.

It can’t be me.

Because if it is…

If the sole reason you are suffering

is my ignorance ..

then every fiber of my soul

will tear apart

I need no protection because there is my truth and my truth only.

Suffering:

Then you must listen…

in silence.

Pride:

I can’t bear to see it.

I can’t speak it.

I don’t wanna hear it.

Even if it means torture.

Because it would mean surrender.

It means…

accountability.

And I would rather die

than admit

that I am the reason

you are in pain.

Suffering:

Then for your sake,

I will keep drowning …

with one hand raised above the water,

waiting for you

Pride:

I will always give you my hand

But each time…

you grow heavier.

And the more I try to pull you up,

the more I feel i am slipping away.

Suffering:

Then understand that

this cycle will repeat

until the fire

reaches the end of the cave.

Only when you dare

to enter the temple within,

to rip yourself apart

with the flame of truth …

the light that burns every shadow

and gives each shadow

its light …

Will we be free.

Pride:

I don’t dare.

Because I know where I’ll place you…

back in suffering.

Suffering:

We have grown so used to one another

that it has become extortion.

By force,

we resist ourselves.

We fold into each other

blindly …

layer upon layer,

growing stronger in illusion,

but not in truth.

And now…

I remain

in a place where time does not stop,

yet always repeats.

Pride:

I will surrender for your sake

Suffering:

This time don’t hold my hand

And watch me swim

Written by Carrero Marquez