duty & obligation

I’m stopping this
madness. look, the last thing
I want is for you
to feel obligated. I know
I’ve been putting a lot
of pressure on you
to give me back
that pesky trinket
I keep forcing on you, but
never mind. obeying the letter
of the law is utterly meaningless
without the spirit
behind it, and even a gift
freely given is not truly a present
if it comes with a million
strings attached. it’s okay.
I’ll just buy another
pen.