My love, we tried. We did our best. Somewhere along the way we lost each other while we worked hard to build our careers. We can’t get it back and no one is to blame. We didn’t fail. Ours was a great love. We were exactly what each other needed for a time. G.D.

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul and you learn
that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn…
“After A While” by Veronica A. Shoffstall