he loved what I gave

By MissT

He didn’t love me, not my soul
Just the warmth that made him whole
He loved the meals, the quiet care
The way I always would be there

He loved the peace I kept alive
The strength I gave to help him thrive
But love’s not built on what you take
It’s in the effort that you make

He called me cold but couldn’t see
The storm that lived inside of me
He said I pushed him far away
But pain had made me shrink each day

He missed the fire, the spark, the touch
But never asked if it was too much
He never knelt where I was torn
Just frowned when I grew tired or worn

He didn’t see the nights I cried
The way I mourned the girl who died
The one who smiled through every ache
Who gave and gave until she’d break

I lived with scars he wouldn’t name
And still, I carried all the blame
He loved my calm, my steady hand
But never tried to understand

We shared a home but not a life
No passion, laughter, warmth or strife
Just empty rooms and silence deep
And nights I’d cry myself to sleep

He didn’t love me, that is true
He loved what I could give him through
A softer world, a safer place
But never truly saw my face

Yet now I see it, clear and bright
I wasn’t wrong for needing light
And I won’t shrink or dim or cave
For someone who just loved what I gave

> This poem is a personal reflection. It is based on the author’s emotional journey and not intended to describe or target any specific individual.