retracted
hiding my fragility
incapable of trust
after so many
self betrayals
no longer certain
anyone, myself included,
is putting my best
interests first

the loneliness
isn’t as bad as
the anxiety
worrying i will,
because i will,
do something wrong
the only person
i can let down
is myself and
that is an artform
long since perfected

taking some small
satisfaction
in how close to
having it all i came
before watching
as everything slowly
unraveled around me
whispering love to
hearts who forgot
i ever existed