1.12.22 // Gentle with Me

I ask you to be gentle with me.
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But I understand why you’re not.
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I act like I can handle myself, like the weight of the world isn’t heavy on my tired and worn shoulders.
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I am not gentle with myself.
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I have taught you to treat me this way.
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I have taught you that I’m strong.
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I have taught you that I don’t need help.
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I have taught you that I don’t want soft, gentle love.
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I have taught you that I can always be on my best game, that even when I’m tired, I can persevere, even when I so desperately need to stop, I can keep going.
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I have taught you that what I need is mere whispers on the wind compared to the duty and responsibilities I have laid in concrete.
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I have done this.
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I have taught you my strength because I was taught everything else is weakness.
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But I am weak, if that means I get to be gentle if that means I get to be fragile, I’d that means I get to be tired.