The Power of “No!”

I build my walls with gentle care,  

But hands reach out, they’re always there.  

I try to keep my borders straight,  

Yet somehow they bend beneath the weight.  

They say, “Just this,” or “Only that,”  

Their needs are small, so why push back?  

But inch by inch, I lose my space,  

Until I feel there's no escape.  

I stand my ground, but feet grow tired,  

The line I drew feels uninspired.  

To please, to help, to not offend,  

I blur the boundary once again.  

But deep inside, I hear a voice,  

“You have the power to make a choice.  

Your heart, your peace, deserve their room,  

Don’t let them steal away your bloom.”  

So here I stand, my line held firm,  

Not cold or cruel, but with the terms—  

Of love, respect, and self-defense,  

A boundary’s built with common sense.  

Though often challenged, I’ll stay true,  

For what is mine belongs to me, not you.