As I walk home alone, I wonder, is this love?

Is love the looks of silent regret when I knock at the door, or the bruises?

If this be love then the poets lie, love is not sweet, love is a betrayal

You betray or are betrayed and the aftermath is silent,cold

Not speaking as you walk home that night

Even when we were entwined, locked together, we were alone

He closes the door on me, looking with shame into the dark, and he is alone

I do what I have to for her sake, my child, I don't want this. Is this indeed love?

He is married, I know this, does she as well stare into the night?

I'm sorry Eliza, I do what I have to, it's hard to be be brave when my arms are all bruises

And scars inside, eyes red with crying and the tears leaving trails of cold

And then you Susan, my body's own betrayal

The world calls what I do betrayal

I call it escape, escape from him, whose eyes are watching from afar, I won't be alone

Tonight, I will escape the cold

I will escape the cold with you Alexander and try to find something resembling love

Touch me gently and leave no bruises

Let's make something better than our tormented selves this night

I promise secrecy with a kiss, knowing that he will be there one night

Waiting with open palm for money, you will accuse me of betrayal

I will pretend not to know, revealing his plans will only give me bruises

And then you will pay, or be revealed and again I will be alone

Alexander, I am sorry, with you I found something like love

I will do what it takes to survive, but I don't want to leave you in the cold

Unreciprocated love, I know, your kisses were warm, but your eyes were cold

What we did was the desperate passion of the night

My lips to yours, it had nothing to do with love

Yet sometimes I sigh thinking of you, yet another betrayal

Once I have known you, it stings all the more to be alone

Your kindness wounds me more than his bruises.

Should I reveal all he has done, show you the bruises?

He would want that, want me to have your sympathy, his mind is cold

But he too is alone

He too stares into the night

But he has my daughter, will he turn her against me? I can't take another betrayal

I don't want to lose my only chance at love

Love is more than shouted commands to bed, and bruises

I wish for your betrayal as well, to cast her, your Eliza, away into the cold

But I know you wish for her in the night, and I will always be alone.