Your Anxiety Has Excellent Taste In People
You walk into my apartment scanning the shelves
the floor, the crumbs
the couch that sags like it’s had a long week
Your eyes hit the crooked picture frame
the dust on the fan, the stain on the carpet
while your voice stays light and meek
You crack a joke about my decorating style
call it “early disaster
” but your fingers are twisting the hem
You say you know I’m gonna get tired of your overthinking
one day I’ll bail, just like all of them.
You list every reason someone might leave like you’re reciting a grocery list taped inside your skull
Talk too much, answer too fast
freeze when plans change
flinch when the conversation gets dull
You say “bet you regret inviting me over
” then laugh in that brittle way that begs for proof
I sit there on the arm of the couch
watching your mind pace circles under this one roof.
Here is the thing I want to shout when your thoughts turn you into a problem in the design
My anxiety looked at you and went “yes, that one
that chaotic sweetheart with the kind eyes and the spine
” The part of me that trusts nobody actually relaxed the night you walked into mine.
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
it picked me and I’m keeping the score
The same radar that spots every fake smile and half-truth still let me through your front door
I take that as a compliment
not proof you are broken or rotten at the core
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
it chose someone who wants your weird brain and more.
You worry about texting too often
then worry about going quiet
shredding yourself either way
You send a paragraph explaining why you didn’t answer
even though I just asked about your day
You apologize for spiraling, for the follow-ups
for the late call when you couldn’t sleep, I roll over
answer with a tired grin and say “calm down
I like your chaos, I’m playing for keeps.”
You think your wiring makes you unlovable
too sharp at the edges to let anyone through
From where I sit, it means you notice more, care harder
spot danger faster than I do
My own restless mind nods every time yours comes into view.
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
it picked me and I’m keeping the score
The same radar that spots every fake smile and half-truth still let me through your front door
I take that as a compliment
not proof you are broken or rotten at the core
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
it chose someone who wants your weird brain and more.
We can call the monsters out when they show up
give them stupid titles and seat them in the hall
You can text me ten times in a row
I’ll answer with selfies from the mall
If I lag it’s just life grabbing my throat
not me backing away from the sprawl
This isn’t a quiz your nerves can fail
it’s two broken radios tuning in through the wall.
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
using all its power to pick someone who gets the scream
Someone who won’t punish you for shaking hands or letting off steam
You are not a burden with extra notifications
you are a heart running on high beams
Your anxiety has excellent taste in people
and lucky me, it decided I belong on your team.
Next time your thoughts tell you nobody sane would stick around for this circus in your chest
Picture my face, middle finger raised at that voice
grinning while I say “you are mine, sit down, rest.”