Dearest Love,

You never said “I don't love you anymore.”

You stopped dancing.

Your jokes became few and far between.

The light that once sparkled in your eyes,

Faded.

They don't look at me and shine like stars anymore

You do not laugh with the same carelessness

that left those lines on your face.

You don’t swing me around the living room to Elvis.

And when I ask you about your day,

you don’t wrap your arms around me and say “Better now.”

You mumble under your breath and shuffle away!

I pray that one night you will come home early,

the sparkle back.

You’ll grab my face and kiss me,

Pull me into your arms and hug me,

like you used to.

But when I look at you you're frowning,

when I catch your eye you do not smile.

What happened to my goodbyes in the morning?

The chaste kisses before bed?

I long for your stupid jokes.

Your heedless sarcasm.

You don’t dance anymore.

The records,

Sit dusty on the shelf.

You have said “I don't love you,”

Only in the ways that count.

Sincerely,

I still love you