I Hate Valentine's Day

I have said this many times and meant it

After years of rough experiences on Valentine’s day, I was done

Nothing big is to happen on that cursed day

Then out of the blue, the week of Valentine’s day he visited

The man I had cared for, the one who did not care for me

Of all the times to see him, this was not the one I wanted

After feeling his absence for a year I thought I had been over him for a while

But damn, the minute he walked back into my life I was a goner

I was content just seeing him and letting him walk away

I had taken the time to make sure I gave him his chance

He had left, and I never saw him look back… until that weekend

He flipped my world upside down, asking about potential, asking if I could see an “us”

He said he liked me, how could this be

He had left without a lingering care

Without a backward glance

I had stood, watching him go until the tears filling my lids made it impossible to see

I had thought I would never go back, and I was right

Instead, I went forward

With him at my side

Not the same man I had met, not the same man I had loved

A new man, a better man

One that would not leave me wondering

One who would not leave me hurting

I was not the same woman

I had found myself

What I would stand for

Who I would stand with

Of all the cringy gifts someone could receive

The love letters and the cards

The candy and the flowers

I got the best one on this most annoying of days

It brought me him

My future love

My future support and comfort

My future

I guess I hate Valentine’s day… a little less now.