and he loves me
but he's scared of me
terrified of how he looks
at me
and can't say a single
bad word about me
other than
i want her so much it makes me ache
and i love him
and i tell him all the time
because i want
him
to know that i won't hurt him
like i did the rest
he makes me want to be good
he's a little boy at heart
trying to stay safe
without the guidance of
a mother
the hand of a father
he is shaking
in the air that surrounds us both
he loves me
i love him
*i will give him time because it is all i have to offer