Between Bruises & Blooms

It is almost time.

Soon,
I will strike a match
for you.

One tiny flame
against an entire night.

It feels unfair
that something so small
has to carry
something this big.

Eleven years
of missing you.

Eleven years
of loving you
without getting
one more second.

So before I light it,

I let the room
stay quiet.

I let myself remember
that grief is only this loud
because love
never learned
how to leave.

And when the flame catches,

I will not pretend
it is enough.

It is not you.

But it is light.

And tonight,
my sweet girl,

I will give you
every bit of it.