Secrets held out at arm's length,

parceled out one at a time

like the rarest orchids -

offerings from one soul to another.

Digging through the tangled layers

of guilt and fear,

digging down through the blood

without anesthetic

to find the essence of each other:

looking for

purity,

absolution.

Everywhere we look mirrors,

mirrors, mirrors. Mirrors of ourselves.

Reshaping pain into strength,

seeking oneness.