His Return

If he had come back… just once… and told the truth.

If I Could Speak

I saw the way you looked at me.
God, I felt it.
You made me feel like I was something more
than the wreck I’d become.

And that scared me.

Because I wanted to be that man for you—
the one who stayed.
But I wasn’t built for staying.
I was always half-out-the-door,
even while holding your hand.

You didn’t know how much I cared.
I made sure of it.
Because if I said it aloud,
if I showed you all of it,
you would’ve expected forever.
And I was never brave enough
to give you that.

So I left.
Silently.
Cowardly.
Ghosting the only person
who ever saw the whole of me
and didn’t flinch.

But I never forgot you.
Not for a moment.
I still see that hillside—
the one you brought me to
without ever asking for anything
but honesty.

And I failed you there.

If I could return,
I’d kneel at the canvas you unfolded
and say:
“I wasn’t ready.
But I did love you.
More than I could bear.”