You scare me

My heart pounds,

My palms shake,

My mind races.

Every cliché schoolgirl response.

My walls were built

With solid stone

And years of work.

But one look from you and they crumble.

My cheeks flush

When you smile

And I smile back.

But then I remember the last time.

He smiled at me

Like you do now

But it wasn’t long

Before that turned into gnashing of teeth

His arms comforted

Like yours do now

But it wasn’t long

Before he used them to imprison me

His hands were soft

Like yours are now

But it wasn’t long

Before they left me bruised and broken

You scare me

Because I want

To love you

But love terrifies me.