When beginning this poem

I had an epiphany:

 

I don’t know what healthy love is supposed to look like

 

The prompt- “Because I love you”

Only reminds me of a harsh November sadness

He said he wanted to die

And he asked me “why shouldn’t I?”

 

I told him

“Because I love you”

 

It wasn’t a lot but it was, apparently, enough

And maybe that’s what love is supposed to look like at the messy age of 16

Maybe it’s supposed to be intense worry for the person you love

Maybe it’s holding on to something you’d rather give up because you care about someone enough to stay.

 

And maybe that’s what it always will be.

Worrying for each other

Living for each other.