Guarded Walls

A friend reached for me, their warmth a surprise,

and flinching away felt like cutting ties.

A sudden recoil, heavy air held tight,

a barrier built through the distance of night.

The world moves around me, each moment a wall,

a fortress of space, yet I feel so small.

That ache in my chest, an unspoken plea,

longing for touch, but afraid to be free.