real

people want you to fall in love with them.

they like the attention.

so they flirt.

and they smile.

and they play your heart strings.

but that’s not love.

that’s what they want you to think.

love doesn’t happen automatically.

love is supposed to take time.

and you know it’s real when you try to deny it

but it keeps coming back to you

you love them

you love the way they hold your hand

and you love the way they sing along to music

and you love their laugh

and you love how you never feel alone with them.

as if the whole world doesn’t matter

because they’re holding you during a movie

and subconsciously memorizing the way your hands feel in theirs.

and you can cry in front of them.

and you can sleep on their chest.

and you know it’s real because you’re happy.

and this kind of happiness doesn’t come from a picture perfect relationship.

it comes from someone who’s real with you.

someone who doesn’t hold you back.

someone who cares about you more than themselves.

that’s what’s real.

v.w.

3.12.19