I find myself
afraid to ask for relationship
afraid to muster any sense of
reluctance or hesitancy
in the ones I love
to become another chore on a list
a responsibility
instead of a desire
but yet I'm
afraid to not ask
afraid that if I don't say a word
I will be forgotten
because I question if I was really
wanted by those loved ones
in the first place
or if I was a burden
from the first time I let myself
ask