#twlsb

Give me time.

I hear your voice, smell you on the sweatshirt I kept from you.

I remember myself, what it felt like to have you inside me—

‘I still love you.’ We both say it.

If you still love me, then what are you apologizing for?

Did you still love her or did you not deserve me?

The story keeps changing and I can’t quite keep up.

I understand your dilemma, caught between a love lost and a love never quite finished.

I do not know which one I am.

‘I still love you.’ We both say it.

If I still love you,

then what am I forgiving?

I found tenderness inside of you and now I want it for myself.

I hope I made you happy.

You changed me. I do not recognize who I used to be, afraid of tenderness and your touch,

and losing you.

For now,

You dip your hand in the river and the flow carries your scent downstream.

I miss you.

I love you.

I think I always will, and one day I hope we fall into each other again.

But not yet.

Not yet.

 and you call yourself weak 

because of how easily you are hurt by other people. 

Need I remind you dear, flower petals bruise 

against greedy fingers

just as easily as you do. 

And just like you, it doesn’t make them any less beautiful, 

and it doesn’t make them any less resilient 

against the winter’s storm.