I never liked my name

Until I heard you

Whisper it

Into my ear eagerly

And

Scream it

In the heat of the night

And

Sigh it

Into my mouth wearily.

You used to trace patterns
Across my back
With your finger
After ***
And we'd lie there in silence
And I'd fall asleep feeling safe
With your skin on my skin
You would carry on well after I drifted off
I would wake up if you stopped too suddenly
I was sensitive like that
The vulnerable feeling would return
But I had to learn not to rely on you
To make me feel safe
Because when you left
I had to toughen up again
So I didn't feel so exposed
When your absent hands
Were tracing patterns on someone else's back
And whenever you came back to me
And you'd trace along my skin again
It was as if your fingers were empty
Hollow