One day,
these tears will stop falling.
The well will run dry,
and I will be able
to smile again.

Crying is part of it.
So is regret.
And yes—if it could ****,
I’d already be dead.
But by my own hand,
not because he destroyed me.
(I wouldn’t give him
that pleasure.)

I want to rewrite my love story
I want to live a love, yes
intense,
romantic,
but healthy.
A love where we grow together
without me losing
myself.

I can be a woman
I can be feminine
I can be a girlfriend
I can be a wife
I can be a mother
I can be all these things at once
and still be me
I can be everything I want to be
not to save someone
not to heal someone
but because this is who I am
it’s how I came into this world

Like a tree
I have lived
Every mark I carry
is one of my victories
scars of war
That’s why
I love myself
because I am still here

"Are you on ***?"
"I'm talking to you nicely and you come at me with rudeness"
This… is you
reacting to the version of me
that sets boundaries

I love you
I love the you that strives
Puts effort into your life
Puts time in the tedious and the small things

I love the you that picks yourself up
Tries to provide comfort when other don't
Provides warmth in this cold place

I love how you continue to try to improve
Reflecting and taking steps towards treating people better
Even when the favour is not returned

I love you
And I'll tell you
So that when it all feels like too much
You'll know there's someone who believes in you