I was once a tame, forgiving soul
Like a god who pardons the sins of his people.
Not until you burned me alive―
Giving me pain no time could ever mend.
What was once as pure as divinity itself,
You twisted into something vengeful.

Now I hope you run out of time repenting all your sins,
and may every morning greet you with the sour taste of regret,
May every night become a nightmare as you drown in the weight of your own betrayal.
May the guilt gnaw your bones until there is nothing left to hold you up.

And when the weight of your sins becomes too heavy,
I hope life takes you without any mercy—
good luck finding your own hell
For even hell would tremble from housing all the things you’ve done.

But if, by some cursed chance, you fail to find your inferno,
Then I hope rock bottom greets you,
The place where all betrayers go,
Where people like you, with the filthiest sins,
freeze for life.

And when you have a moment, if the demon would allow you
Perhaps you can say hello to me—
I’ll be there, dancing in the murky swamp, still full of wrath.

― Gerielle Anne Afos

(Illustration by Chynna Mae Santos/FEU Advocate)