Nobody ever taught me that love could be like this.

Love was a closed fist and a headlock.

Love was a threat and a promise you would be afraid of.

Love was a slew of hurtful words and a smack across the face.

Love was giving you something to cry about.

Love was gaslighting you into believing you were the worst version of yourself.

Love was turning you into a shell of a human being, walking the darkness alone, knowing the demons would be following.

Love was the hand creeping across your neck, urging you to fight back.

Love was being told you’d never amount to anything.

Love was a cold, dark hole that you couldn’t climb out of.

Love was toxic.

Love was brutal.

Love was a lie.

But love is kind.

Love is patient.

Love is opening the door and smiling at the light shining through.

Love is hearing that text tone and smiling, even though you don’t even know what it says.

Love is being transparent even though you’re terrified and being met with understanding and compassion.

Love is a cool breath of fresh air on the hottest day of the summer.

Love is embracing the broken parts of you and realizing they aren’t a burden, but a steppingstone.

Love is fulfilling.

Love is beautiful.

Love is sweet.

Love is worth it.

What I was taught was love was compliance.

It was fear.

It was hate.

It was staying when there was nothing worth staying for.

It was draining.

It was devastating.

It was unbearable.

It was unhealthy.

It was grim.

Love wasn’t the lie.

The life was.