what i know

before i met you,

i had a textbook hidden under my tongue on how to keep a safe distance because safe distance meant no hurt and i couldn't handle any more broken hearts. no amount of studying could ever prepare me for the look on your face that night, though. the one that made me break all of my own rules. i could never say no to your green eyes.

before i met you,

i saw the sky in only few shades of blue and the shade i loved the most was the one gazing back at me when i decided to look up. i rarely looked up-- i knew there was no point in wondering what called the void above home, that it would only drive me insane. you taught me theres more to the sky than just clouds, though. you taught me not to stare at the sun for too long.

before i met you,

the definition of unrequited was not synonymous to any part of my life. when i say you gave my life "meaning," it does not necessarily imply your addition was beneficial. i have choked on too many flowers to fall for your tricks again. all of my "he loves me, he loves me not" were nothing but placeholders. nothing but petals in the wind.

before i met you,

i thought i had it all figured out. i thought i finally had a handle on this life. but you, you taught me never to trust unlit matches. you taught me that even my own hands will betray me.

and they did. every time.