Terms and Conditions

It scares me how scared I am,
Of love, of care, of adoration—
For it always comes with a price,
Everything comes with terms and conditions.

They say love heals, but they forget,
Healing hurts before it soothes.
You bleed a little,
Before you bloom.

I’ve learned that affection isn’t free,
It demands a version of me I’m not sure exists.
You give your trust like currency,
And pray it doesn’t devalue too soon.

Maybe I’m not afraid of love itself,
But the aftermath—
The silence after the promises,
The cold after the warmth.

Still, somewhere deep,
A foolish part of me waits—
For someone who’ll read the fine print,
And love me,
With no conditions attached.