Because of My Love for You

I used to love him...

But he told me he loved me, with his hands.

He told me cared when he grabbed me.

He showed me he was kind when he forced himself onto me.

So when I say that I love you, I can tell you what love is not...

Love is not cruel.

Love is not demanding.

Love does not anger when jealous.

Love does not force things upon another.

Love is not manipulating.

So, again, when I say that I love you, I understand it is a loose term.

Because when I say I love you, 

It does not mean the chemical connections in my brain.

When I say that I love you, it means that I cherish every quirk you possess.

When I say that I love you, it means I will never dream of straying away.

But when I say that I love you, it means so much more.

Because I love you, I push you when you whisper a joke in my ear.

Because I love you, I tickle you endlessly.

Because I love you, I listen.

Because of how I loved you, you've become the person you are.

But you love me too...

You love my rounded hips and stretch marks,

You love that I laugh too hard and smile too much,

You love that I worry and care just a little more than I should.

And now,

You care a little too much and laugh a little too hard,

You smile the biggest smiles now.

Because I love you, we shine together.

Because of my love for you, we both learned how to love.

Because we love each other for who we are, we can define "love".