anew
--
a poem
today i did not want you.
i did not wake up and
search for the scent of
you on my sheets.
i did not read old
messages looking for
clues as to where your
affection has run off to.
i stopped counting your
half-truths; i no longer
wish to make something
whole from them.
i did not ache when i
saw your fingerprints
had vanished from my hips.
i did not waste my tears on you.
i stopped calling it your
side of the bed; it is mine
and whole like my heart again.
i boxed the birthday cards and
the stories collected in your hands.
i forgot the color of your sister’s
hair and your father’s eyes
i did not listen for your
footsteps outside my door.
i threw out your toothbrush and
ate all the snacks you left behind.
today i did not love you.
i worshiped my
skin and forgave the
imperfections i found.
i ignored every memory
of you that hung in the air.
i wrote myself love notes
and feasted on flower petals.
i welcomed my smile and
the scars on my ankles.
i knew who i was without
looking in the mirror.
i adored myself and only
myself without you
whispering in my
ear for me to do so.
i want to express my heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to read my work. your presence here means the world to me. feel free to clap, comment, and/or highlight; your support is genuinely valued on my end. before you depart, consider exploring another piece of mine if you enjoyed this one. thank you again for reading this far.
