(Originally published October 22, 2011)
I shared with you everything I had; I’d have died for you.
I poured out my heart and my soul, and I cried for you.
I ended friendships and said good-byes for you.
And with tireless hope, I tried for you.
And all this could have worked if true love were one-sided,
Or if you had tried similarly to how I did.
Like I was unable to succeed without you.
And I was too weak to speak out or doubt you.
That I vented, reflected, gave up, but then I grew
Out of the constraints that I felt loving you.
Love is more than self-sacrifice, and not necessarily life-long.
Love enables, enlightens, and makes you feel strong.
So, I will greet the world with hello’s; not deny it.
I will embrace every new opportunity before trying it.
I am going to live for love; not die for it.
I’m going to feel free; not cry for it.
And I guess I’m reiterating what we already knew:
That the love that we shared wasn’t love that was true.