The speaker is hurting and wants closeness more than anything else. They ask to be held and whispered to, and they say plainly that the words don't even have to be true: "sweet empty words" and even a lie about love would be enough. That tells us how badly they need comfort, and how little they expect from whoever they're asking.
The requests are small and careful. No kissing, just a hug. No forced smiles, no pretending. The other person can keep secrets and act normally. The speaker seems to be lowering the bar on purpose, asking for warmth without the pressure of romance or performance. The one firm line is "don't hurt me, I've been through enough," which suggests past pain, though the poem never says what it was.
The mood is tender, tired, and a little sad. There's vulnerability here, but also a kind of quiet resignation. The last line, about basking in "the warmth of another," sums it up: the speaker just wants to feel less alone for a while.