To the Person I Became After You

The version of me

who could sit alone without feeling abandoned.

The version who stopped explaining

why certain things hurt.

The version who learned

that being loved shouldn't require constant proof.

You came slowly.

There was no dramatic transformation.

You simply appeared after enough days

of choosing yourself even when nobody was watching.

I wish you could meet

the person I was before.

You would probably tell them

they are going to be okay.

You would probably tell them

that the loss isn't the end of the story.

You would probably tell them

that one day,

they will stop measuring their worth

by who decided to stay.

And perhaps that

is the best thing I received

from losing you.

I found myself.