What I thought was love

I would often ask my father why he hit my mom.

He always replied saying that he loved her.

I went and hit my sister that evening

because I loved her.

I would often ask my mother why she stayed with my dad.

She would always say it was because she loved him.

Years later my boyfriend hit me and I smiled

because that meant he loved me.

Looking back I now realise that was not love.

Love is doing nice things for one another because you love them.

Love is suffering through that horrible movie because your partner loves it.

Love is wanting to be around them because you love them

and nothing more.