The Day we met I believed in “Love at first sight”

I knew nothing other than the color of your eyes

The shape of your lips

And the rhythm of your voice

The Day we went on our first date I knew that this was right.

The heat of your body was a comforting presence that I never wanted to go away

Your everlasting smile brought sunshine into my long dark life

And your laugh was sweet, sweet music to my ears

The Day we went to the movies, I leaned into your embrace

The words I love you spilled easily through my teeth

Like the waterfalls on the great mountains my love for you is infinite

I knew that this was meant to be
It was natural, we were natural, you were natural

And then you weren’t.

You demanded passwords, questioned whereabouts, generated excuses

The words “where you’ve been?” “where you at?” and “who you be with?” became a norm to me

I started walking on eggshells just to hang out with my friends

Flinch when your voice would get too loud

Making up excuses so I won’t feel your wrath

Cowering under the veil of my up forth confidence

Reporting to you like you’re my boss that hands me my paycheck to live another day

My 6th sense is now my main reliability

My lying skills have gotten higher points than my ACT score

This is not the relationship I signed up for

I want to return it but I didn’t keep my receipt

I need to talk to the manager but their on-vacation leave

What happened to the trust, the compassion, the calm

This is just unexplained suspicions and jumped conclusions

You went from forehead kisses to hugs

Holding hands to bruising grips

Sweet words to striking arguments

Because the excuse “Because I love you” isn’t good enough anymore

“Because I love you” you should treat me with respect

“Because I love you” you should trust me

“Because I love you” you should know that it was and always has been me and you

So, I’m leaving “Because I love YOU”