Love isn't necessarily...

Love isn't necessarily what we think it will be

What we hope it will always be

It can be the additional strength required to keep going

The resoluteness to commit despite changes,

To hold a hand despite the tears.

Love isn't always the flutter of your hearts

The fire in your belly

It is sometimes the very difficult and painful conversation

Needed to talk about something hard, and hurtful,

And to still stick around afterwards.

Love doesn't have to be fairies and rainbows

Bewitching glances across candlelit halls and tables

Because right now, in this moment

It is a decision

A decision to accept that things change, evolve

That we cannot be all the things to each other

That we can love others in other ways

And still support, care, and respect each other.

Love isn't necessarily forever the fire

But it can keep us warm

As we stoke the embers

And decide to keep going, in the ways that are right for us,

A family can resemble many things.