remember that one time?

remember that one time?…when, absent assurances–you believed you could?

it wasn’t really one time (one incident)–it was a way of life. that time, i mean.

but i watched you play it safe and watched you grow more nervous. more apprehensive and insecure. and i saw you put your inner child in an orphanage.

then [you] waited

for something insignificant to erase you.