Don't Ruin Me

You walk like trouble,
with smoke in your lungs
and sins tucked beneath your tongue.

You look at me
like you already know
exactly how to break me.

I think you like
how easy I unravel for you.
How quickly I become
someone I don’t recognize.

And that’s what scares me most—
not that you’re bad,
but that I’d let you ruin me softly.

So at least ruin me slowly,
so I can pretend
I had a choice.

Because by the time I realize
I’m drowning,
I’ll already be calling it love.