You didn’t have to love me back.
I know that now.
But I wanted you to hold what I gave
like it had weight.
Not like it was a feather to be brushed off
or a gift to be returned unopened.
I didn’t ask you for forever.
I didn’t ask you to change.
I asked to let me care
the way I saw you
You didn’t have to love me.
But I didn’t deserve to feel forgotten
for doing what you couldn’t yet name.