To The One Who Could Not Stay

This is to you, the one who could not stay. The one who resonates within my bones, who nestles softly in between each heartbeat. The one who held me longer and left me whole.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. How lucky have we been that our paths entwined until our footsteps fell in unison. That we walked this exact time and place together, learning the road that destiny planned for us. How lucky were we that we were able to know one another in a world of a billion different souls, that yours found mine within this space and gave us the hope of a new destination.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. The one who rests between the spaces of my words, the one that has given me such inspiration from the pages of our journey. The one who gave my words new lines to explore, lines that may lead us back to one another someday.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. The one who has come to understand my heartbeat and found comfort in its rhythm. The one who has shown me that the heart is a muscle that we must use to make stronger and more open to love, that we must first use it to love ourselves.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. The one who taught me that the darkness is needed for there to be light. That the shadow of struggle will illuminate the way home.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. The one who needed everything and nothing. The one who had to leave in order for parts of us to stay, that letting go of something means holding on to something more. That this too is love.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. I hope you remember the flames that fuelled our passion and how we burned so brightly together. I hope you never forget the glow that we once shared, the heat we were both drawn to that crackled in each other’s presence. I hope that you keep embers of us in your heart.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. I know one day there will be someone you don’t let go of, someone who holds your forever in their heart. And one day, you will choose to remain in a way you never could with me.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. And because of that, neither could I.

This is to you, the one who could not stay. You left, but so much of you still exists.

Some things we take with us wherever we go, because some things never really leave us. And those parts of you will always stay safe within my heart.