love letter to my body

i ignored you.

i starved you.

i called you names.

i pinched you.

i plucked you.

i tried to make you disappear.

i hated you, i told you so, and still, you stuck around.

i have no idea why.

i would have broken up with me a long time ago if i were you. i would have tossed my baggage from the fourth floor window onto the street, screamed expletives from the top of my lungs until i went hoarse, and let me fend for myself in the world.

but no.

you stayed. you stoked the fires, you kept the soup warm, and the sheets clean. it's almost as if you knew, somewhere deep, deep down, that i'd come home one night, surrender, crawl into your lap, and let you feed me buttered bread and hot chocolate. you knew you'd cradle me while i slept, my hand resting upon your soft belly, loving you, like you knew you deserved to be loved.

thank you.