because, well, i need you
"i'm pathetic," she murmured
"don't feel that way," he replied
and her silent tears fell
from self hatred—
translucent against her skin;
"i always need protecting," she said
"well, i'm here," he responded
she wept behind clenched hands
piercing skin with long, blunt nails
he's so far away and she's desolated
"i can't protect myself; it's pathetic,"
she said, "too dependent; too needy"
"are you saying i'm pathetic?" he asked,
"because, well, i need you"
and she laughed aloud; tears still falling
she's acrimonious and abject;
"you can find someone better," she whispered
"why do you say that?" he sighed,
"because it's true;
i don't have qualities that one would love or need,"
she shuts her eyes; blocking him away
unwilling to hear what he has to say
"i can't tell you all of them today;
i need sleep and so do you," he said
she's surprised at the time; 2:27 a.m.
he stayed with her for that long?
"i can't sleep even if i tried; you go," she said
"okay; i love you," he replied,
he kissed her; hugged her;
and left;
perhaps thinking that she couldn't sleep
from her distraught emotions
when in reality, his words
were running through her mind
repeatedly—
keeping her awake;
"because, well, i need you."