Stories of Poetry and Vice Versa

Shattered, shield.

You needn't be my shield.
I'm not that fragile
I don't need you to protect me from people
I don't want you to protect me from the world
If I don't ever experience it
I'll never know how to deal with it.
I don't fault you for it.
But
I swear
I'm not that fragile.
I
I'm sorry
I don't want you to protect me from yourself.
Please don't
Don't lie to me to keep me safe please
Don't keep things because you're afraid you'll hurt me
Don't
Please.
I want to help
And I can't do that
If you keep things from me
Because you're afraid I won't be okay.
You needn't be my shield.
I'm not going to shatter.
I'm terrified you will
By protecting me.
I don't want you to run
I don't want you to lie
I want to help
Please just let me.
You needn't be my shield.
I won't shatter.