They call it selfish when I say no,
but I've learned that silence is not survival,
and giving too much is a slow kind of death.
So I draw lines not to push love away,
but to keep myself whole.
My boundaries are doors, not walls,
and if you truly care,
you'll knock instead of breaking in.
If that is selfish,
Then let me wear it proudly
because protecting myself is the kindest thing I can do for myself.