The man I loved with all my light

of all the people

I could’ve loved

I chose you—

the storm with soft eyes

the fire with trembling hands

I held you

when your world

was falling

and offered mine

in return

but somewhere

between

your silence

and my aching

you started to let go

and I couldn’t stop

myself from holding on

I’ve tried

a thousand times

to love loud enough

for both of us

to keep you safe

even when I broke

in the process

but now

the weight of trying

is heavier than the love

and I’m starting to

slip away

not because I want to

but because I must

and that—

that shatters me

more than

you ever could.