the risk of touching your hand

hands beneath fabric
like the secrets beneath sentences

your hand is like a hot stove
my fingers know the cost of touch
unlike i did before
but i had to touch it first
to understand there was a risk at hand

the fabric you touched
was only on the back of your hand
the palm hidden above my flesh

when people ask me
the three word inquiry
i gave them the two word answer

the fabric stained
flicks my shirt
i attempt to suck in to pull away
just like i did
when it was your hand