Close Distance

Glued to the floor

from stubbornness that just won’t fade.

Trapped in a box of imaginary danger,

terrified to acknowledge

how being loved dearly

can also be painful.

Fooled into forgetting

that criticism is only unfair

when not constructive,

although the two become

so easily separated

once struck with defensiveness.

Backing away seems smart

when conflict arrives,

but in reality,

only allows the path to connection

to be littered with doubt and fear.

Yet love waits—

not on the other side of distance,

but inside the courage

to step forward anyway.

It’s the choice

to trade silence for honesty,

fear for understanding,

walls for bridges.

Close distance

isn’t about erasing conflict,

but learning to stay long enough

for healing to enter the room.