if i trust you 
to tell you my story 
or even 
open myself further 
to share 
a painful experience,
i need you to 
meet me with 
a quiet, gentle 
listening ear.
please, please, 
do not meet me 
with an even more 
crazy story of your own
or try and top my 
pain with your 
worse pain. 
how does that help 
either of us 
except we are both 
now doubled with 
pain?