the feeling’s mutual

My emotions
are on a
bungee chord.
Plummeting
one minute and
rebounding the next.

When he pulls away,
he whispers, “Better?”

I smile.
“Much.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

He takes my hand
and holds it
like he owns it.

And as we leave,
I realize for the
first time
in a long time
I’m not secretly scared
by someone wanting
to be with me,
but instead
so very grateful
for it.