I feel I owe you a thanks, my dear

No other could teach me what you have

What's become of us, after all,

I guess maybe it's not so bad.

Yes, you taught me the hard way,

Not sparing of pain and loss.

But those lessons will stay with me forever,

No fear of memory being lost.

To stand up for myself,

Amidst threats and in danger.

To stay calm and collected,

Being hurt and filled with anger.

To have self respect,

And recognize my worth.

To prioritize my needs

Even knowing it will hurt.

You proved to me I have compassion

And can admit when I am wrong.

Helped me recognize manipulation,

To empathize and yet stay strong.

You've taught me to be cautious,

And always be aware.

To determine every situation

And treat them all with care.

You remind me it's okay to love

And to let my pain be felt.

But not to be foolish, dismissive

And forget how it came about.

You've shown me that my love is real

And that for you it always was

That it's far better to have loved and lost

Than to have never loved at all.