It was following the darkness
You held my hand and told me
Life without would be cancerous,
Insisted this soul tie was needed.
It was the time in the shower
When you said, “wife”
Cleansing uncertainties of the past
Consummating new futures.
It was the times you risked everything else
But made clear I was worth the sacrifices
Asked me to stand aside my principles
While you figured out a path,
Sought out my patience
While you sought out words to explain,
Made promises for holidays and weekends together
And to never be ashamed of this love.

These were times you strung me along
Until you were ready to admit
You were still too tired to learn
How to keep a promise.