Slider

Throw it at me and I'll hit it out,
I'm waiting on it, counting on it,
Ready to defend against it —
but where it's supposed to be.
An insult from a nemesis,
A close call against me, fine.
But a compliment with a hidden barb,
a slight from a friend,
an honest but painful evaluation,
and resentments flare, fear crops up
shoving serenity aside.
Beware the slider, hold on to your program
when the unexpected hurt happens.