Tidal Waves

Behind those once closed doors of our two story house,

behind those once drawn, red cotton curtains

that acted more like blockades that hid our personal lives from the outside world,

rather than hide our rooms from the unbearable sun,

was a shameful truth that we couldn’t bare to show

Our life together was built around a facade.

Lovable and sweet to one another outside of the confines of our house, indeed we were,

but one step inside brought nothing but disagreement and irrational arguments.

Like two tigers circling each other, we watched every subtle move that the other made.

It was a waiting game that only brought increasing tension,

a waiting game of someone to make that simple, yet fatal mistake

that would release the raging torrents of our surging irritation and sorrow

into a culminated mass of resentment and misery.

Like a never ending cycle, this was our life.

Built up tension. Fatal mistake. Release.

Built up tension. Fatal mistake. Release.

Built up tension. Fatal mistake. Release.

What had become of us?

I don’t know.

When did we start hating each other to forget how to love?

I don’t know.

Do we even remember why we started a relationship?

I can’t remember...

Like two sea men who’d fallen over deck,

tossed into the rough waves of the ocean while a storm loomed over head,

we got washed ashore – exhausted.

Finally, as if for the first time in our lives,

we laughed like madmen,

then sobbed our hearts out,

and talked for who knows how many days,

before we asked each other

‘Are we both willing to to start over?’

Now we don’t talk a lot. No– we don’t speak that much.

Hardly any small talk when work is piled up.

But we’re learning every day, about each other and about ourselves.

Step by step, our frustrations and complications have soothed over.

No longer do we need ‘I love you’s’ to keep us sane throughout the day,

no longer do we have to worry when either of us goes out

to buy groceries,

to hang out with friends,

to enjoy a walk

without the other possibly having an affair.

No longer do we have major arguments over trivial problems.

We’ve come to realize that our actions speak more than words.

That what we lacked wasn’t compatibility nor communication,

it was the lack of display for appreciation and affection,

that striped our bond to shreds.

Now years have come and go, and we’ve still got more pieces to pick up,

But, at present, we’re better than ever.

Like demolition workers, we shattered our relationship,

And like construction workers, we rebuilt and enhanced it.

Leaving our empty promises and ‘I love you’s’ to sink into the depths of  the calm waters,

we now gladly hold each other’s hands as we trudge along our struggles

because we love each other–No,

because of  our will, trust and courage to overcome obstacles together,

have we finally learnt to sincerely love each other.