she keeps asking to go out

on our days off after work

to let loose and have fun

and i keep creating reasons

why i’d love to

yet can’t

i shy from her touch

her gentle hands

her warm smile

because the truth of it

is i’m afraid of getting close

afraid to let her in

to take that chance

to risk that kind of hurt

and make myself vulnerable

there’s nothing scarier

than the type of terror

tucked away behind

a five foot female frame