Not So Close Please

Please, do not touch me
Literally or metaphorically
Do not tempt me to believe- to hope
I do not want to open myself up
to emotions that I know
Go beyond my current ability to cope

Call me an asshole
Whatever makes you feel good
But perhaps, you should not take this personally
Talk to anyone that's known me
Old friends, people I've dated
This is just me-
perhaps heredity, or how I was raised to be...

Yes, I have been accused many times
Accused and harassed
It is not unusual for people to want
from me, emotionally,
more than I can give

So, have I've tried before, given it a shot?
Well, of course I have
sometimes slow, sometimes fast
I've been falling since teenage days
And the only thing I know for certain
Is that people leave
People are never satisfied

So, do not ask me to open up
and be everyone's best friend
Do not ask me to get attached
Truth is- if you can't be patient with me
You should just move on and let me be

Don't get me wrong- I love my friends
I want to be there in their time of need
But, please, do not ask for dependency
I cannot fill that role for you
And I know you can't fill it for me

Perhaps, this is all just a phase
but grant it to me please
Phase or not, its a step I need to take
Please do not attempt to take its realness away
Grant me the respect of taking me seriously