I See You

I see the armor

Not the cute kind people romanticise

The real kind

The one you built because you had to

Independence that never asks.

A toughness that never cracks

A sharp edge

A little aggression when needed

Emotional distance

that keeps people from

getting close enough to do damage

And you carry it well

So well that people mistake it for personality

But you know it is work

It is exhausting emotional labor

Holding yourself together

Keeping your guard up

Managing the world.

Staying in charge of every detail

so nothing can catch you off balance

Because dropping that armour has a cost

You have learned

that softness can get you

dismissed as weak

Or taken advantage of

misunderstood

You do not fear desire

You fear being seen

But I see you

And I love you