It took a collapse for my hands to realise that roses were meant to be handled gently.

And love like a glass vase rested upon my head.

In front of me more steps than I have ever seen and you’re on the other side.

I am bold enough to run as fast as I can but wise enough to know that if I do, the vase will fall.

But it’s the urge to run that fast which keeps me up at night.

They said we won’t work,

and I just think that’s stupid.

Hearts pick people, not places,

and it kills me that your place happens to be in the arms of another.

But it doesn’t mean I won’t love you like you live next door,

and it doesn’t mean it won’t be hard.

I’ve never missed someone so deeply who I haven’t actually lost,

and missing you is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.

Watching all the other couples share all of the small things—
like making you a warm cup of tea in the morning,

or falling asleep to the sound of your heartbeat,
 instead of a silent goodnight through the phone.

But it’s all worth it,
 in the moment I get to run into your arms,
 a place I call home.

It just drives me crazy, not being there with you,
 but it would be far worse to simply not be yours at all.

I will wait as long as it takes,
 I will fight as hard as you need,
 I will love you as much as I can,

because hard work and seven-hour plane flights 
are a small price to pay for the forever 
I can’t wait to spend with you.

Loving you is like saying,

"I'm alive."

Maybe we just weren't meant to be.

But that's okay.

You left without saying goodbye.

Not a whisper, not a word, not even a reason why.

You could have said anything, perhaps told a lie,

But it would be better than nothing, a reason not to cry.

You thought yourself a footnote in the universe,

You were the spirit of my words, every line and every verse.

You taught me how to write,

How to take these feelings to colour from black and white.

You gave me everything, mostly your time,

While I gave you love and words that sometimes rhyme.

But everything I had was simply not enough,

Such that you left me in the dark and in the rough.

I understand that I made mistakes,

But in the recesses of my mind, a pathway paves,

Looking for reasons why you walked away,

From a home built for you, a place to stay.

I want to tell you that I love you, but the words are not there,

A heart once beating with no emotion to spare.

I hope you read these words I've written,

To find all the love yet to be given.

I hope these words inspire you to think,

For your name on my chest, in permanent ink.

This chapter will never come to an end,

For it is a chapter that only you and I could mend.

The passage of time is a funny thing.

A cheeky little devil.

Convincing us that somehow it's out of our control.

But maybe it's not control we desire,

Perhaps it's the fact that it leaves us behind.

That one day we will just be a footnote in orbit.

Left nothing to memory but a tombstone.

And even then that fades.

The passage of time is a funny thing.

A cheeky little devil.

Makes you think that life is short,

When you actually have all the time in the world.

Maybe we just wanted to be kids for a little longer.

Watch the sunset for one more hour.

Feel a romance that lasts a lifetime.

But a lifetime is all we have.

A lifetime bound by consequence neither good nor bad.

Maybe we just pretend that this all ends.

We know it does but let's acknowledge it for once.

Tell her you love her.

Stay outside a little longer.

Take bigger breaths.

Sleep a little later.

For this all ends.

The passage of time is a funny thing.

A cheeky little devil.

For making you think you have none at all.

A commodity outside of manufacture.

But you have all the time in the world.

And the devil can't tell you otherwise.

It takes 20 seconds to make a decision,

That will turn your life upside down.

But it might be the best you've ever made.

Yet you held back because of fear.

Because you looked at the time already spent.

So don't waste a minute longer.

And just kiss her, you fool.

Because the passage of time is a funny thing.

A cheeky little devil.

So don't let it control you.