my hands, tangled in your hair,
brush back the years of insecurities so i can finally
see your eyes.

i noticed you breathe easier when it's just you and me
where no one else can see you or get to you or
hurt you

you were a small and broken thing,
curled up on my floor with a
painted smile
that always melts when you face the warmth
of someone who actually loves you.

i often think about your head in my lap,
gesturing at the ceiling
laughs on the edges of both of our mouths
content for a brief moment just to be

i often think about you coming in to my room at night
mouth twisted with hurt or with anger or with both
eating cookies and talking **** about people and doing all i can until
i bring that smile back

i will never understand what you saw in me
but
i know for sure you saw all the things i didn't want you to
and loved me for it anyway.

thank you.