Hopeful. That’s the word.

We’re so hopeful when we meet someone. Things are good. Quirks are cute. Minor annoyances are just minor — after all, why let small things get in the way? They’re great! They’re amazing! They’re…

Human. With flaws, yes. That’s fine. But they’ll work on it, right? For me. For themselves. Everyone wants to do better. I’m sure that they want the same thing I want, and that’s the entire reason we entwined our lives together. To that end, they’ll improve, and then they’ll come to appreciate…

Me. It feels like they’re using me, but that can’t be true. I know it sounds like excuses but their reasons are legit. They’re tired and can’t do it. They’re busy and can’t come. They’re distracted and can’t focus on us. But that’s fine. Those things all matter. The things I care about aren’t as…

Important. To them, and that’s why, it shouldn’t be as important to me. I need to put in more time and effort into this to keep it a good, organized and tidy space for them to return to when they finally can. I can be patient. I’m here for them, and they were here for me in the past. I trust them. I do this because I can’t…

Leave. That’s what love is, isn’t it? Not leaving them at their worst, because then I don’t deserve them at their best. They’re working on it; they promised me. They make mistakes; they’re human. They can’t pick up their weight; but we’re partners and I can pick up the slack. They’re spending a lot of time now with…

Others. That’s fine, everyone has a life. It can’t revolve around me. There’s no way they can forget the person who’s been with them through thick and thin. There’s no way that I can be…

Replaced. What happened to the scarf I gave you? Who gave you that necklace? For what have I been waiting for? We made a promise and I’ve been maintaining our space for us, but have you been focusing on building elsewhere? My friends keep telling me to move on, but I just need to do this so that you’ll…

Return. I’m here. I’ve learned to make all the things you like. I do all the things I know you care about. I tried to understand that hobby you do every week instead of spending time with me. It took a lot of effort, but finally, I learned to love…

Myself.