Safety

When he says I love you

You will want to believe him

Of all the people who have told you those three words

This is the first time you have felt it

Seen it in his eyes

That you are more than

A body

A shell to be used and then discarded

When he says I love you

You will not believe him yet

Your mouth will try to form the words

But you have been lied to and left and hurt

So many times

And he will know that you are scared

He will wait for you

To be ready to let him in

When he says I love you

He will stop saying it with his words

And start showing it to you

With the way he holds you

And teaches you to trust him

And makes you start to see your own beauty again

And little by little

You will give your fragile heart to him

When he says I love you

For the first time you will say it back

Because you know that he will be there

Because you know that he sees more

He sees the strongest and most broken parts of you

And loves all of you

And for the first time

Love feels safe