Because I love you

Because I Love You

When I met you, I could not help

but form constellations in the freckles on your cheeks.

I did not know then how dearly I would love you.

Or the things that I would do for such a love.

Because I love you, I will make you fresh chocolate chip cookies

in the middle of the night.

When your soul is empty I will feed you with love and comfort.

Because I love you I will never leave you empty.

When you leave at night with me standing on my doorstep

And I shake at the thought of what is behind the door

I will call you back to drive me once more around the block

Because your love is enough to strengthen me for whatever is to come.

When you tell me that you can not talk about your feelings

I trust you

I know that you will tell me when you are ready

And until then I will hold your heart steady

Because I love you I will hold your hand when

They clench so hard it hurts

Or when they shake so violently

I worry you have frostbite

When Anger overtakes every endearing glance you send

And insecurity leaps into my throat to stop the words from coming out

You hold me close enough so that I may breathe the air from your lungs

Always willing to share even when I am unable.

Because I love you, I will not hesitate to be honest.

I will share my thoughts like a child eager to brag at show and tell

I will not hold back on the emotions that take hold of my heart

even when shame comes holding their hands.

I will peel back my heart like the cover of an old book

You may hear my spine crack but I will still tell you one hell of a story

Because I love you I will not hold anything back.

When I met you, you wore bright pink socks and a crooked smile

I didn’t yet know how the curve of your back felt under the weight of my hands

Or how your laugh felt in the pit of my stomach

I did not know how your love would open me wide open,

Or that you would break my heart and mend it at the same time.

Because you loved me, you let me go.