one look
from across the room
and see all the hurt
that's ever inhabited your heart,
weighing you down..
one touch
gently grazing your arm
and i feel the hurt i've caused you..

you don't deserve this..
you deserve to feel seen..
inside and out..
the light and the dark..
and you deserve all of it to be loved..
it's my job to protect you..
it's my job to love you..

but what do i do when the one hurting you is myself?...
how do i protect you from me?...
i can either go away forever..
or i will be better for you..
that's how.
but you choose . . .

i feel it..
you never let me forget it..
i feel it every day,
waking or sleeping,
that goes by
that you don't say a word . .