I've been shown through heartbreak-
What love is...
I've been told that love
was something that took care of me,
physically,
while tearing me apart,
emotionally.

My whole life I've been cast aside-
A mother that didn't raise me,
A father who tried his damnedest-

I've been reminded
by full force pushes to the face,
holidays alone without my family,
Siblings who choose drugs over relationships,
But even still, I learned what love was.

Love isn't a fairy tale,
or a "perfect" family,
Love isn't every holiday
with those you wish to spend it with...

Love
is the strength you have to keep going,
Love
Is the one word that someone speaks to encourage you
Love
Supports all your dreams even if they don't happen
Love
Is indeed patient and of course it's kind-

But love is putting yourself first
when you wanna put the whole world before you-
Love is thankfulness,
Love is forgiving with a reason to understand,
Over and over again...

Love is a four letter word
that contains thirteen letters...
UNCONDITIONAL.
Sometimes,
It's a phrase that gets used too often:
It's a feeling that gets shoved in your face
when you do something wrong-
But these,
Are the wrong ways to use love.

Love should be used every morning on your way out the door,
Love should be reflected when you look in the mirror-
Love is the reminder that dark days will come-
But the days past that are even brighter.

Love, is unconditional.