how do i say
that i am scared?

how do i tell you this
knowing
that you cannot
relieve this fear,
that your words of comfort,
eloquent as they are,
cannot assure me
of my body’s resilience,
that you can take me
in your arms,
hold me tight,
and still
it will not be enough?

i need to share
with you,
and yet i fear
the disappointment
inevitable
in the distance
between us.

can you hold
my heart
close enough
for that not to
matter?