some loves will come back—

some great loves.

and they will tease you

and roll their eyes.

oh, him, again?

her, really?

why don’t you try something new,

fresh,

less baggage?

it’s less complicated that way.

f*ck those people.

you know what’s complicated?

people.

being human.

love.

loving.

lovers.

relationships are only fresh and clean for a short while anyway,

until we feel safe enough to slowly peek

out from behind the conscious, or unconscious, masks

we wear for the world, 

and show our deepest fears,

anxieties,

and secrets.

with our voices shaking,

each word asking—

will you stay, still?

will you stay here, with me, even though…?

find the lover who exhales: yes. 

even this?

yes.

it will be messy

and beautiful,

and I hope the beauty matches the challenge,

for this is how we grow.

so if a love comes back—

old

yet new

and oh so complicated—

this is life.

i’ll take real over shiny and new any day.

~

Author: Annabelle Blythe

Image: Felix Russell-Saw/Unsplash

Editor: Nicole Cameron