Please, please br don’t give me a spade br because I will dig a hole with it br and don’t give me a mountain br of affection br because I will only bury myself in it br br don’t be kind to me br because I am unable to appreciate it br don’t accept me the way I am br because I will point out br all my faults ad nauseam br to try and convince you br that I am unworthy br br don’t be generous or sweet or gentle br because I have been damaged so badly br that my withered spirit br only understands pain br don’t climb over the barbed wire fence br of my bitterness br because I can build a new one br faster than you can tear it down br br And please, please don’t love me br because I can’t bear the fact br that I know I will hurt you br br But above all br br Please br please br don’t br leave me br br Because I couldn’t bear to live another day without you br It is only in the whirlwind of this br horror that I have created br that I realise how you have helped me to healbr br Abbi van den Bergbr br