My heart blooms

as we speed down the highway,

windows down, voices strained,

as the next song comes on,

smooth and sure as your eyes

lock onto mine, happiness blooming

in the chasm of my chest as you smile,

mouth wide, grin toothy

as your favorite song drowns out the noise,

and I mouth,

“Because I love you,

we’ll listen to this monstrosity.”

My heart aches

as I crawl under the blankets,

shoving a fist into my quivering mouth,

stopping the screaming of another attack,

panic spidering in my veins;

the bed dips as you pull me in,

wiping away the tears

as I curl around you, small and broken,

sobbing while you hold me,

whispering soft and sure,

“Because I love you,

you don’t have to suffer alone.”

My heart bursts,

as we sit, pens scattered, coloring

like we will when our age

catches up to our hearts.

It’s quiet, save for the scribbling

of marker on parchment paper,

and the occasional howl when it bleeds,

soaking into the next, ruining it

before you were able to start;

I’ll hand you mine as I smile,

“Because I love you,

take my last one.”

And in those moments, my soul aches,

fulfilled in a way

I never knew could happen,

making me better, stronger, kinder,

and it was all because

I love you.