Quid Pro Quo

Despite a long backstory for what seemed 

a gently mutual friendship, it grew clear 

you wanted one specific thing you sought

to disguise. My reflex was to gird my loins

to protect what little I still had. 

I would rather have thought ahead about what you might need 

and freely offer something, "shirt off my back." 

Instead you called your claim first as rightfully yours, 

perhaps believing it was your only chance, 

thus making me feel worse for both of us.