Michelle

you once told me
as a kid
your mama said
not to pick your scabs
or they’d leave a permanent mark on your skin
and now,
all grown up,
you saw the same thing in people

you said you never wanted to get closer
to another person
you would't let them leak into every part of your life
and taint it all
because when they left,
no matter how much you try to peel them away
and rip them out of your every thought
you'd still be left with a scar
of them

and now
I understand,
because
I see the same thing in you