When you fall in love
Love wholly,
Give him your afternoons, nights, mornings
And even the time between them.
When he speaks drink in his words
How he fixes them to your ear,
Let him dress you in a narrative of love.

When you meet his family
Always say thank you,
Even for the simple things like water
And listen when he speaks to his mother,
How his love for her is irreplaceable.

When you meet his friends
Always laugh at their jokes
They may be corny,
But you will hear pieces of him in their conversations,
Hear the passion in his voice
When he complains of them
He’s telling you what he values.

When he holds your hand
Hold his gaze
Let him know you see him for who he is
And keep your eyes sharp,
That way you will always be the first one
To see the stutter in his step.

When he takes you to special places
Breath deep,
You may be the only boy
Whose been this close to him
So hold the atmosphere
In your chest
That way when his eyes run
You will have the cardio to catch them.  

But don’t think you always have to run for him,
When he lies to you
Let him lie
He may never have been caught before
Let his words build him a shelter.

When he ignores you
Let your pain remind you of your vulnerability
Time makes it too easy for us
To become dependent.

When you fight
Don’t hold anything back
Say what you mean,
Be fair to yourself
Never let your sentences end on eggshells.

When he stops saying he loves you
Love yourself,
No one in the world could need your love
More than you
Let his silence
Make you stronger
Prouder to love you.

When he leaves you,
Try not to laugh
Let his words reveal
How false a shelter he has hid under
Be brave enough to cry in front of him
But be strong enough to walk away.