love me,
because you find me soft, loving, kind, generous
because of what is in my mind
because I bring joy to your life and to the lives of those surrounding yours
not because of my body or my face, though I hope you love that, too! It’s a lovely bonus.
if you can’t love me,
if I derive my happiness from anyone but you
if I love anyone else
if I might love anyone else
if I love someone you don’t like
if you can’t choose who I love and who I don’t
if my mind, body, and soul aren’t wholly yours but also mine
if I am only a friend and not a girlfriend
if I expect you to be complete in yourself
…then you aren’t a good match for me.
i will love you,
because of who you are
because of what you do for me
because you bring me joy
because you choose to share your time with me
because of you
…and I will ask you to love me for the same.
i might love you, but i won’t be with you,
if you choose to associate with toxic influences
if you don’t want to share your time with me
if you can’t make a commitment to me
if you can’t reciprocate what I do for you
if you can’t tell me how you feel
if it turns out we’re just not that compatible
if i can’t grow with you
…I hope you understand, but I don’t need your understanding to live my life. I’ll still love you. I’ll always love you.
Love, for me, when it grows deep, never leaves.
Whatever love means to you, I hope it brings you comfort.