You first caught me with your smile

You reeled me in like a fish

I didn’t know I had other options

I was just looking for food

For my heart

 

I thought of you as my fox

(Perhaps that should have indicated

What was to come)

Foxes are mischievous and cruel

So were you

 

“Because I love you”

You said

When you destroyed my dreams

And confidence

You said you were helping me

 

Why did I believe you?

 

It hurt, but I learned

I learned not to trust you

I’m still learning

But now I know this:

 

A healthy relationship is one where you emotionally invest yourself

If I’m crying I can lean on you

If you are, you can lean on me

 

A healthy relationship is a respectful one

I respect that you have other friends

You respect that I have mine

 

A healthy relationship is an equal one

You are not my master

An eye for an eye

A kiss for a kiss

A healthy relationship is fearless

We aren’t stressed around each other

We aren’t afraid to say what we believe

We aren’t scared that one wrong move could cause a break-up

 

A healthy relationship is not manipulative

It is not using words against one another

Nor threatening to kiss another girl

 

It is not messing with my mind

Until I feel hopeless

And alone

 

A healthy relationship is a loving one

It is one where just the thought of your partner

Can make you smile

 

They are your best friend

Your partner in crime

Your stories are real

And not a fantasy made up in your mind

 

Real, true love is knowing that you would sacrifice anything

Anything

For your partner

And

That they would do the same

 

A healthy relationship

Truly finding love

It is a two way stream

It cannot be done by one person

That is the most important lesson that one may ever learn