As I stare into the flames, my thoughts consume me.

Memories of you, racing through me.

Some beautiful, some repulsive, but they are altogether too much for me to bear.

Why is this what I get in return for my care?

We'd rather have stone cold hearts.
That way, there are no broken parts.

There's no pain that comes with not feeling, in not being vulnerable.

In fact, they are the ones sought after,  no attachment needed, comfortable.

But that's not how we are meant to be, dependent, fragile, broken.

And to have someone treasure our hearts, with unconditional devotion.

What happens is, the true meaning of love gets lost in translation. We lose all hope.

Hope is what keeps us sane. Gives us purpose. Helps us focus. Without it, everything is just pointless.

Without it, we are unable to cope.

*To put it simply, we are just no match for love, when we have not hope.