Not your fault

he smiled

and I believed him.

he laughed

and I thought he was okay.

he said “I’m fine”

and I didn’t ask again.

now I lie awake

replaying

every word

every silence

every smile

that hid

a war.

I carry

the weight

of what-ifs

like stones in my chest

but I am learning—

slowly—

that I was not

the enemy

he was fighting.

you can love someone

with all your light

and still

not be able

to save them

from their darkness.

and that

is not

your fault.