For them, this is the best way to live

Taking wary, cautious steps

Arms spread, feeling around for obstacles

They've been hurt before

It's natural to try to avoid things that cause pain

A sense of self-preservation

But when sensitivity to tiny signs

Malignant or benign, it doesn't matter

If they sense anything that will disrupt their precarious balance

Shut it down shut it down shut it down

They feel things too intensely to do otherwise

Too vivid too bright too sharp too dark

Conversely, when someone or something brings light

Into their tiny bubble of security

They hoard it

They crave it

They'll do everything in their power to keep it

Like dragons

Guarding their treasures

Aggressively protecting those who keep it happy

Though we would prefer that they stay of their own accord

Did I say "we"? I meant "they", the "dragons".

Backspace, rewind, shut it down

When the people they raise onto grand pedestals

Become overwhelmed

By the intense emotions thrust upon them

They may mistake affection for clinginess and

Can no longer stand the attention showered upon them

They turn their backs

And everything goes dark

In the minds of the dragons, they've been abandoned

Maybe the person they adored was not a good person

Yes, if they were capable of abandoning us

If they were capable of wronging us

If they were capable of hurting us

Of lying to us

Then we better make sure that the door

Hits them hard on their way out

Make sure they know they're the ones in the wrong

That they're the villains here

Because though we did nothing but

Love and support them

And they dared to abandon us

They deserve to suffer

Just as much as we have suffered at their hands

Give them their just desserts

It's only fair, after all

They just used us, toyed with us

Damned us to Hell is what they did

Make sure they feel remorse

They have to feel like they're the absolute worst

Strangle them until they can't breathe

And when they're finally out of our sight

When we know they'd never come back

Even if you offered to pay them twelve million bucks

Just to give us the time of day

We sit down.

Look around at the wreckage

Surrounding our tired bodies

Not again

This keeps happening

No, this time it was different

How?? It wasn't different! We've been doing this for years!

I swear I didn't mean to split.

Alone again

All over again

But part of me wants to blaim you

It was your fault for getting involved with me

You knew the risk

We both knew I warned you

About my true nature

You said you could accept me as I were

I told you I might try to push you away

You said

You would stay

But my forceful words were too much for you

Who was truly to blame?

Would you hold the dragon accountable

For wanting to protect itself from emotional pain?

We've been betrayed too many times

Always by those who say they love us the very most

The flames are always too much to handle

They always leave me behind

Chained to the scaly, "scary" beast

That is part of me

We come together, as a set

But nobody wants to deal with a monster

Nobody wants to get hurt

I can understand that much

But what I cannot forgive

What we will not forget

Is that we gave them everything

And to this day, it feels like we got

Absolutely nothing in return

But bitter memories

No explanations

We gave and we accepted eternally

Not really wanting much other than

Reassurance and company --

It's fine. I'm okay. I'm starting to get used to the dampness

Alone with my dragon in our cave

There's no light at the end of this tunnel

But the fire my dragon breathes

There's no warmth in this place

But the fire my dragon breathes

Though I fear that which burns everyone I care for

All that keeps me from freezing to death

Are the wicks lit by the fire my dragon breathes

So if I never meet another person who can stand the heat

My suspicions will be confirmed

We wonder if this is our fate

The chain linking our feet rattles when we walk

Dragging noisily along the musty cave floor