"Because he hurt you"

He slips his fingers around my shoulders,

Letting me know that he is paying attention

To every crack and turn in my face

His smiles winds,

Clock hands turning back

To show me that every mistake of the day is gone

His eyes say

“I do this,

Because I love you”

I crack a grin,

Shining beams of light through him

But those words turn oceans in my mind

It takes me back through the moments

Before him,

Before us

I see a hand gripping my shoulder,

Eyes piercing into me,

Heart pulsing waiting to be let go

“Relax. I do this,

Because I love you”

There are cracks between my teeth,

Trying to remember that the man in front of me

Is not the same man

Who pushed bricks down my throat

A cool hand holds my cheek

“Are you okay?

I don’t want to pry

But I worry,

Because I love you”

It is a wonderful thing to be loved

But it is a greater thing to feel loved,

It feels brand new

When someone asks you

If you want to be with them

Instead of using strong fingers

To rid you from your chance to choose

It is hard to feel calm,

When he slips his hands around me

Slowly,

I am learning

That “because I love you”

Is not a reason of persuasion,

But a testimony to the world