the sting was muted.

"i spoke to you in cautious tones.
you answered me with no pretense.
and still i feel i said too much.

my silence is my self-defense.

[and it was my self-defense.
in that silence, please have heard something.]

and every time i've held a rose,
it seems i only felt the thorns.
and so it goes, and so it goes,
and so will you soon, i suppose.

[you did.]

but if my silence made you leave
then that would be my worst mistake
so i will share this room with you
and you can have this heart to break."

[and you did.]