I've walked through this world
in different shoes,
but I see the weight of what you carry,
the quiet tremor in your voice
when you speak of safety,
the way your gaze shifts,
always alert, always careful.
I know the fear in the spaces
where you feel too small,
too vulnerable,
the moments when your heart races,
and you wonder if tonight will be different.
I see it because I've felt it too,
but my fear has a different face,
one that blends into the night
while yours calls out for protection,
for understanding,
for space to simply be.
I would stand between you and the world,
if I could.
I would be the wall that guards you
from the things that make you look over your shoulder,
from the shadows that threaten your peace.
I would give you all the strength I have,
to make you feel safe,
to make you feel whole,
without the weight of fear in your chest.
You deserve a world that listens,
that sees your strength,
and your right to walk without worry.
And I will always be hereâ
not as a savior,
but as a shield,
for as long as you need.