Dreams

The only thing I ever wanted

was to be loved unconditionally...

I wanted someone who would,

without fear, peel back my hardened

shell and remove the armor underneath.

To see the creature bare and writhing

and whisper

"You're beautiful."

But here I am, once again.

Collecting the discarded parts of my shell,

picking up the fragments haphazardly strewn

about the room,

pushing the pieces firmly back into place...

Wishing I'd never removed them in the first place.