A slight touch makes my heart

jump in fear

i push your hand away

“no,” i whisper softly

and your response—

“why?”

i don’t know

my mind tells you

but you, of course

can’t hear it

and i simply gulp and reply

“because”

in my timid little girl’s voice.

You try again:

“no,” i still find myself whispering

of course, you don’t know my past

i can’t expect you to understand

but i can’t bring myself to tell you

either.