I’ve been so wary for so long about giving up parts of myself, it makes it hard to let people in. I’ve felt like if I give up any sort of ‘part’ emotionally, it’s giving away part of myself and that would just make it harder and harder to see that person walk away. But I’ve been looking at this all wrong— people don’t really give themselves up with emotions. Emotions are different places, different levels, different doors. It’s not like to understand someone you have to give something up because you’re not giving something up at all. Emotions are not our belongings. They cling to us like clothing and linger like perfume. And then they fade. They change. When you’re sharing something with someone, however personal it may be, you’re sharing a feeling, a beautiful emotion. You’re not handing something over to be examined. You’re walking into a room with someone else and acknowledging that you’re both there.