He doesn’t like to be touched.
He’s not used to it
so when he find an elbow bump
or an errant hand on shoulder
he reacts poorly.
He winces.
He jerks.

He avoids crowds with this in mind
and is solemn in his approach.
He will not touch
unless expressly invited
like a vampire
or a SNAG.
He is careful.
He comes correct.

It makes him creepy
which he regrets.
He would like to change.
He would like tactile practice
but that is hard to come by
when he is so evasive
on a physical level.

He finds
there is always distance
between him and them.
He finds it at work
on trains
in the midst of conversations.
He even considers himself
from a distance
as if several people separate him from others.

He would find it sad
if he appreciated
things that are touching.