A Life of Noticing

I wish I didn’t notice

the slightest shift in tone

When someone pulls back, 

hoping I won’t know 

But of course, I know. 

I have been trained 

to regulate everyone’s emotions 

since I was four.

And of course, 

I’m not really that hurt. 

But when you’ve made a life 

out of noticing, 

you can’t suddenly turn off 

the very thing 

that taught you to hope.