I knew

I knew you were the one

when I didn’t have to pretend to be

anyone else.

I peeled open every layer of myself,

showed you the parts that are bruised and ugly,

and you still found me beautiful.

You massaged every bruise

with gentile fingertips

and helped me sew my skin back on.

You saw the broken bits of my reality,

and sat up all night helping me glue them together.

I knew you were my true love,

when you saw me drowning

and jumped in

to help me swim.

You saved me by helping me save myself,

and that’s when I knew.

I was truly in love with you.