to her, love was a word

it was what you said to get someone to stay

it was a warmth you could take off and throw away

just to make room for another.

–

to me, love was everything

it was the hope that got me out of bed every day

it was the feeling that rooted beneath my skin, in my bones

it was something I couldn’t tear out if I tried.

–

and, yes, because of that—

what happened was inevitable.