Your love was a cage

Made out of bone

I stayed there, quietly

Locked in

Sometimes I would carve things into

The cage

Things like

“Help”

“I’m trapped”

“I want to die”

I was small enough to

Escape between the bars

But I was scared

Because I knew how much escaping would

Disappoint you.

You fed me flower petals and cotton candy

I fed you pretty words and kissed your cheeks

Never once did I feel

Perfect

Like I do right now

Out of the cage and into the light,

No longer homesick for the chapel

Of inconsistency

The rain falls on this roof

As he sleeps beside me

And for the first time in a long time,

I want to be loved.