Heartstrings

She meets him in his office on her way to see the doctor
He seems a little eager not certain what he's after

She'll see him a few more times before they go to lunch
He says you are so guarded do you ever get out much

He can't manipulate her now soon lies will be revealed
A vampire seeking blood another heart attempts a steal

Then there was the one she met while walking on the pier
Gentle conversation asking can we share a lunch my dear

She's not giving him her number she wont let him drive her home
Plan to meet along the beach again maybe they will get along

He gets a little pushy whats worse he makes a racist remark
She calls out his transgression he doesn't understand her snark

She knows this will not work carefully she leaves the scene
Ask herself again why do these type of  men want me

A favorite thing for her  another library adventure
She meets another man he seems so nice and gentle

They meet a few more times by happenstance it seems
He finally asks her out can he really be this sweet

Carefully he asks can he take her out sometime
She's giving him her number says maybe we can text awhile

She tells him of her plan to not date for just a year
He asks how long its been eleven months is getting near

He says that its ok well just chat until that time
Then he can plan a date everything will work out fine

Is texting enough for you she asks when he seems a little sour
He texts her afterwork everyday they begin to chat for hours

But still there is this thing again that lingers in her mind
When she runs into him in person shes still afraid inside

When her body wont ignore warning flags she couldn't see
Her mind says nevermind when her body wants to scream

To chat for just a few weeks now he's getting more at ease
When his day at work went bad he wants for her to see

Defends his right to lash at her she has to understand
To have emotional abuse again will never be her plan

She politely backed away when the argument ensued
After a few weaks went by he texts out of the blue

He says Happy Thanksgiving attempts to joke about the food
Happy Thanksgiving Tony hope you enjoy your day too

That was all she had to say was he testing if he was blocked
No more visits to that library won't respond to texts again

Sometimes the politics of dating gets a little tense
Cant ignore the warning flags even when they don't make sense

When my body knows abuse I must honor when it signals
When another lesson attempts approach and finds a way to linger

I will not block his number in case he starts again
Show me who you really are won't accept that type of pain

The other lesson learned along with seeing those red flags
Dont treat me like a toy and expect for me to stay

So I ask myself key questions the way I've learned to do
Why can't I turn the tables and be the one to choose

The way i heard it said when I was so much younger
See the wisdom in those words now that im getting stronger

Each person teaches lessons when I choose to pay attention
It may take some ugly frogs until I finally learn my lesson

Keep my boundaries strong are they going to respect them
No emotional involvement until my feelings aren't neglected

Happy to hang out no need to buy a date
We need an even playing field when precious heartstrings are at stake