thank you for teaching me
that love is not pain
i don't need to hurt
to be close to you

i've spent my time
rebuilding what i thought was mine
and destroying what i've gathered
from you

you waited for me
in anxiety and ease
knowing that the world
would bring us together, if it should

the things i picked up
were hard to erase
the belief that real love felt like
i was never the one who gained

thank you for making me feel
like i am someone, already