Hands as Shields

So badly I
just wanted to
rush over to the
girl-with-her-hands-
as-shields.

I wanted to
wrap her in
arms and
so badly just
tell her that
everything is
fine, but

I lie too much
already,
and I was afraid
that she was
separated from me
by experience;

her stories of
life
built an invisible wall
around her.
I'm too afraid
to break it.

So badly I wanted
to hug her,
touch her,
try to comfort
her;
stop the
pain because
it was leaking like
acid into
my eyes, and

the stinging just
made my mind
want to
cry.