Long before you said so expressly, I knew you‘d moved on.
Your sweetness turned slightly bitter.
Your intrigue became apathy.
Your focus was everywhere but on me.

I had started to fall in love with you—irrationally, inexplicably, unintentionally, yet wholeheartedly.
I had dreamed about what could be.
I had made myself vulnerable.
So when you leaned away, I anguished.

I didn’t understand my heartache and tears.
How can you begin to love someone you barely know?
But I did know you—your fears, insecurities, strengths, and dreams.
And I wanted to know more.

I picked up the pieces of my shattered heart,
And stuffed them back into my chest.
I locked away my aspirations for us.
I moved on because that is all I could do.

And then, after a while, you came back to me.
At first, tentatively, and then with conviction.
I don’t know what to make of it all.
Dare I hope?