At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then, the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness

Daryl sobbed looking himself over in the mirror, this was the only thing he knew. Pain and emptiness. Hunger. He always was looking for something, looking for hope, looking for something better, looking for love. He rubbed his eyes as tears ran down his face how could anyone love this? A broken teenager, body covered in bruises, starving.

Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen

Twenty-two now, and doing what he could to survive, dancing for money. Selling himself. Giving men what they wanted because it was the only thing he knew, spent his entire life as an object and that was how things were. That was just what life was for him. Making certain people happy, making his father and brother happy. It was always men he had to keep happy.

And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
Oh, and you in all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?

"You're too cute to be out here, dancing and selling yourself for everyone else. Settle down, find someone who loves you. I would love you." He muttered. Daryl looked up over the man he was locked in a room with.

"I'm well enough on my own." Daryl grunted standing up and pulling on his jacket. "Don't need you."

"You're so young selling your life away," the man caressed his cheek. "Let me take care of you."

"Would rather not." Daryl muttered. "Do well enough for myself."

"Something bad happened to you didn't it? Why you keep your tank-top on."

"Leave it, alright.. probably won't be seein me again for a while."

The man sighed as Daryl slammed the door shut and left. He didn't need to be chastised for his own life choices. Didn't need him to tell him what was and wasn't good for himself.

I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough

Daryl puffed the smoke, it kept his mind free, kept him away from the pain of the world. The pain of his past, the pain of his father and brother yelling at him for money or telling him he was a whore for what he did for money, but it was better this than dying on the streets or being home.

I thought that love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid

Daryl twirled on the pole, money dropping like rain. This was enough, this he could handle, people actually want him when he dances, when he sells himself like this. This is his life, and this is what he knows, this is what his life was like and what he needed. Eyes watching him, hands touching him but they were at least soft. They weren't like his father, they were like his brother. This was his life, this was how he needed to survive.

He didn't fear these men, he knew he was safe here.

You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry

The man watched him as he worked his way to the bed. "Thought I wouldn't see you again?"

"You pay the best, you're the softest."

"You're beautiful, sometimes I forget what you do. What you are."

Daryl gulped. "I do too."

The man smiled rubbing his cheek, "I'll be careful with ya'."

"I don't worry."

We all have a hunger

Daryl looks himself over in the mirror, maybe it was time to make changes, maybe it was time to change. Maybe it was time to finally give into a real life