You could explore the speaker's fear of overbearing affection.
You could also connect the fear to the speaker's relationship with their father.
What you can say
You could examine the speaker's fear of overbearing affection as seen in the statement, "The wilted leaves of that plant are a constant reminder of my clumsy touch, my smothering embrace. I fear that love, like water, can drown if poured too freely."
You could also connect the fear to the speaker's relationship with their father as seen in the statement, "The storm outside mirrors the turbulence within. My father's love has always been a force of nature, sometimes a gentle breeze, other times a raging torrent. I worry that my own clumsy affection might only add to the chaos."