slowly

you don't have to like every piece of me for this to work.

give me every affirmation I crave like the morning sun,

the warmth of the words on my skin.

I don't have to give you all my thoughts, all my personalities,

for this to contain something true. My angry, my ugly,

my innocent, my wildly unapologetically gay. 

(these are all me and I bring them with me everywhere.

and yet I do not need to switch through them like channels,

waiting to see if one will scare (or entice) you.

this is not a game, but in some ways it is.

I do not have to pull the strings perfectly, 

or even at all. we can both be responsible for ourselves

you and I. And I can relish this moment. the intimacy

of something spoken and true. the trust in the space

between me and you. as you close the door, your voice saying:

I'll see you soon 

(can I give myself enough space to process this? slowly

and without a fear of change)