Unwanted Affection

A hug lingers near, I wince at the warmth,

that rush of closeness, its unwelcome charm.

In that brief embrace, my heart seems to sink,

a sudden reminder of spaces I think.

The softness of contact feels heavy and fraught,

each second too long, my skin tightens, distraught.

The weight of affection feels wrong in this space,

I sidestep the closeness, wanting my place.

So much love in this warmth, yet fear also coils,

my need for some distance, the quiet it spoils.

It’s not them, it’s not me, it’s just how I’m wired,

a longing for space while desire is mired.