With/out You

I have learned

to accept all rejections

as signs to be more independent

necessarily self-reliant.

You don’t love me back

and it’s just fine.

I won’t get a heart attack.

It’s not the end of the line.

Yes, we’re better off as friends.

Even so, I know.

You won’t always be the one

that I can depend upon.

At least it’s still better

than pretending that you love me

only so that we can stay together.

I deserve the truth,

even if it means leading me to agony.

I have trained and self-restrained

myself from pathetically begging,

no matter how much I might be in pain.

I’ve resigned to time

when it comes to healing.

I’ve made friends

with my own solitude.

It’s not a perfect friendship,

but I still (know how to) feel good.

With or without you,

I can’t keep feeling blue.

There are still lots to do.

If you’d like to walk with me,

either today or the next,

we need to talk things through,

so our paces, goals, and compatibilities won’t be an issue.

R.