I think maybe the reason I'm so in love
is that for the first time, someone
has beheld me as if they want to protect me.
Not as if they want to corrupt me.

For some reason, I have never felt worthy 
of that.
Maybe because it has never happened,
Or maybe because I have been taught
that I am only worthy of degradation.

Whatever the case, I have always loved hard.
And, for the first time, I am being loved hard back.