Forgive me, Father

I was born to be pure,
obedient, and silent.
I was taught that desire was sin
and pain was proof of love.
But you can only pray away the hunger
for so long before it turns into something
else.
I left home to save myself from a man
who called sanctified cruelty love,
and I met another who showed me
what love really was,
beautiful, brutal, and anything but holy.
Now every choice I make tastes like sin,
and every breath feels like confession.
My name is Judah Levon.
This is what salvation costs.