Stay

I never understood

Why she continued

To surround herself

Around all these

People

That weighed her down

Like anchors,

Falling deeper and deeper,

Into an ocean of her

Confusion.

But that’s when I realized,

She never had a choice.

These anchors

That held her down

And continued to

Criticize

Her thoughts

And ideas

And beliefs,

They were her people.

As I had my culture

And family,

She had hers.

She’d been shown love

Her whole life,

Just not the kind

That every 8 year old

Dreams about.

She was shown unity

And sacrifice,

Discipline and

Reason.

But never

The kind of love

That takes your

Breath away,

That sinks into your

Bloodstream

And flows through

Your veins,

That makes you feel

Like you’re on top

Of the world

And under it,

Simultaneously.

Last night,

I told her I was leaving.

That it was rather

Saying goodbye

To this town

Or this world.

And it tore her apart,

You know?

Her voice shakily

Tried to maintain

Serenity

As she said

“No, please…

You can’t leave.

Don’t leave me…”

For such a long time,

I had desired nothing more

Than to leave this

Damn city behind

And reunite with

The smell of salt water

And the sounds of

Waves crashing against

The beautiful shoreline

Of our land.

I’ve craved that beauty

My whole life

And it’s really the only thing

That has gotten me through

Every day.

But hearing the

Sound of her voice

Corrupted by the

Heart wrenching tears

That she refused to allow

Fall down her soft cheeks,

I realized that I had finally

Found something

I desired more than

The salty air

And the ocean breeze

And the tranquility of

The sea,

I desired her.

And I truly believe that,

That is what love is.

Desiring another person’s

Happiness,

More than your own.

I wanted more than anything

To leave this place behind,

Maybe even with her.

But she had her people

And I guess I had mine.

So I stay,

For her.

She doesn’t know it,

But she’s the only thing

That has kept me here

For the last few months.

I’ve craved the sound of

Her voice

More than the waves against

The shoreline.

I’ve craved the unique mixture

Of her scent and the perfume

She sprays every morning,

More than the salty air.

I’ve craved the feeling

She gives me,

More than the ocean breeze

Through my hair.

I’ve craved her,

More than I’ve craved

My own happiness.

So I guess,

That’s why I stay.

I stay for her.