When I was young,
I wrapped my heart in barbed wire
and nailed the door shut
before walking away.
Years passed.
The nails became rusty.
Some fell out on their own.
Others were melted by love.
Now, I think I might be ready.
To risk exposing my heart.
To open the door.
But when I pulled back the heavy barrier,
I found that,
as I’d grown older,
my heart had accepted the wire protection as natural
and grew around the points and barbs.
In an instant,
I recognized the truth.
I know longer knew how to let people close
without hurting them.
Because, while my mind said “it’s okay,”
my heart was still beating
to the thrum of fear.
-Cynic Ninja
