I loved you in a beautiful place
the kind that is clothed with darkness and fear
with boiling hate and spewing bitterness
as I huddle over you
wrap my arms around you
and shield you from burn scars that already
litter your body
I loved you in a beautiful place
the kind where you limp to me in defeat
your head pounding your heart thumping
and I lay my head against your chest,
wondering if the palpitations are yours or mine
I loved you in a beautiful place
the kind where you tell me, “be okay. please.”
while your wounds are still fresh and your bruises still sore
don’t you know that I hurt because you hurt?
I loved you in a beautiful place
the kind where we cling to each other
spanning 216.7 miles in between
I’m sorry my arms aren’t long enough to reach you from here
I loved you in a beautiful place
in the aftermath of your father’s anger
and your mother’s diagnosis
and the melodies they stole from you
I loved you in a beautiful place
I loved you in a painful place
I loved you in a heartbreaking place
and I’m not afraid to call it home.