Nothing ever comes
completely back together
and even what can be reconstructed
is never without weakness.
If pressed, the healing
will crumble and revert
because we’ve learned fear, cowering
at the slightest ill-born glance.

All I can ever ask of you
is be mindful of how small I am.
It doesn’t take much to derail me.
The journey is so long
when no one meets you in the middle
and the weight of being
the bigger person
acts more like ball and chain.

The only advice I receive
is that people just don’t care
but why does that mean
I have to give myself up for them?
Forgive me if I choose to hide
in the moments you make it hard.
My retreat will be as temporary
as your insensitivity, I pray.