You were like the sun.
Bright and warm, comforting,
Hot to the touch.

I thought myself impervious to your blinding rays.

…I was naïve.

In the end, I had gotten too close,
Stayed too long,
And I got burned in the aftermath.

No amount of aloe could treat this wound,
Nothing to prevent my broken heart from peeling,
And exposing the raw, embarrassed flesh beneath.

Was it wrong of me to assume?
That if I fell,
If I stayed long enough,
I wouldn't require any sunscreen?

My friends had all warned me.
Told me to make sure I was cautious,
That the sun-falling in love-was dangerous.
If I didn't look out for myself,
It could cause serious damage.

And I suppose it had.
I can hardly look in the mirror,
Seeing the ugly marks that the sun-you-left behind.
Like this,
How could I allow myself to be seen?

Everyone would know.
That I'd been careless,
Thought highly of myself.
They'd know that I'd paid the price,
For holding out hope like a fool.

I…don't want to admit that I've been burned.

So for now, I'll apply as many gels and creams as I can,
Until the pain goes away.