i thought these calluses
had hardened around my heart
like i would be tough enough
like i could just say it
Say the words
Nonchalantly
As i pass you
your flat white
But empathy is heavy
and it caught me by surprise
as i say the words
i see them drop
and you scramble to collect them
You look at me
and i watch the light
drain from your face
The weight of these words
Taken in like light
Through your pupils
and they fall behind your eyes
they travel down your throat
and Hit your stomach
Winded
You try to say
Something
Anything
and i wish i looked away
Because your sympathy
was thrown over me
like a thick
Heavy blanket
and under the weight
I couldn’t move
you got me
but for your sympathy
it shot right through
Through this calloused heart
and the tears fell before I could pull off that blanket
before I even knew
i should have looked away
i could have worn apathy
But that empathy
gave you a map of me.