He placed his hand on my shoulder,

and asked, “is this okay?”

I smiled a moment,

and almost looked away,

But when he looked at me I was pleasantly surprised,

instead of tracing my body his face met my eyes,

his smile was sweet, safe, soft and kind,

and I stared right back at him and I wondered why,

“why would you ask me? That’s not required.”

And down by his lips with his sweet, safe, soft smile,

his face quickly fell as he studied me a while, he said “what do you mean, love? I’m asking consent.”

but that was a word that was not often said,

I looked at him puzzled and deep in his eyes, I could see that he saw me and almost started to cry,

his eyes watered up and confused in my mind,

I furrowed my brow and felt the fault was all mine,

I apologized swiftly for making him cry,

he took my hand in his and said “the apology is mine,

I’m sorry that no one ever asked you before,

but you know that they should’ve?”

I didn’t,

but I still answered “sure”,

I think that he knows me better than I thought,

cause he brushed the hair from my face his voice sort of caught,

I could feel in the way that he squeezed my hand,

This isn’t a boy, no this is a man,

I felt almost peacful knowing he was mine,

And he wouldn’t rush things, or already be trying,

To get in my pants or gain something he wants,

No, he’ll go at my pace I feel ive already won,

It’s the bare minimum and honestly should be required,

But these days it’s difficult and hardly acquired,

And the way when I’m with him I’m a safe sort of tired,

Not always on edge and I feel I’m admired,

But not for my body, for my hips or my waist,

But more for what’s inside not even just for my face,

Not my lips or my lashes or my smile and brows,

He loves me for me and that’s not easily found,

I love how he loves me, and all that I’ve learned,

His heart’s always with me and I’ll never be burned,

I’m no longer afraid guess Ive finally awakened,

And this time I’m safe, and I won’t be forsaken.