I am quite afraid of bees

even though they don’t sting me

I have never been stung

but the possibility is the fear

Unknown things are scary but a knowing chance hurts more

you could or I could or it would

harm me in some chance in some improbable unknowing way

I am always stuck waiting, held by some false paranoia

some painful suspicion

if life’s pain could be a band aid

let me take it off all at once

pain seemingly everlasting just to remove this chance

I am shaking, I am afraid, of not the bee but of the sting

I want to believe people are kind

I tell myself every night