My Ex’s Brother

I don't want to see your brother.

I know he knows about everything that happened in our relationship.

I'm sure you told him everything,

all the details,

even ones that painted me in a bad light.

Hell,

I'm sure he knows things that even you never communicated to me.

I don't hate your brother,

honestly he was kind and even took my side on so many occasions.

But the idea of seeing him again,

after all these years

makes my skin crawl.

I just don't want all these years of progress

to come to a halt because of overthinking

about what I say or do being shared back to you,

like I'm a target that needs to be surveyed.

And I'm sure it's all up in my head,

that people don't actually care as much as I do,

but I just feel queasy at the idea

of seeing your brother again.