I needed it,
you know

I needed you to tell me
to shut up,
that I did good,
that despite all my doubts
and worries
and fears,
I probably made it
through

but instead,
you told me the truth

I probably ****** up
I probably failed
I probably ******* myself
for the up-teen millionth
time

and that’s not what I
needed

not then
and
certainly not
now

I needed to be lied
to

I needed to be told
I was wrong

but instead all you did
was shrug your shoulders
and said, “well, you’re
probably right”