She’s got a slack-jawed stare at my packed bags by the door.
For good. I’m leaving this time.
A friend told me, over coffee, all about the real you.
Then she did what any good friend would do. Told you.
Why didn’t I listen?
I don’t understand what you even saw in me.
Don’t be silly; it only hurts when I breathe.
I tore down my walls to let you in.
You poured gasoline on my scares and lit a fire
with your tongue on the trigger.
Tears spread your cheeks.
Tears I’d never seen before now
extinguished my self-confidence’s third-degree burns.
Who am I kidding?
I’ll always love you.

(© 2022 AC)

(Wattpad, Amazon Kindle.)