I Believed Him.

He gave me a stuffed rabbit

and told me it'd be a good friend—

                                                              so I believed him.

He closed the closet door

and told me no monsters were inside—

                                                              so I believed him.

He gave me eskimo kisses goodnight,

and told me he loved me—

                                                              so I believed him.

He sent me off to school

and told me I could become anything—

                                                              so I believed him.

He told me he got a job

and had to move away—

                                                              so I believed him.

He introduced me to a woman

and said they were just friends—

                                                              so I believed him.

He said she was his wife now

and apologized for lying—

                                                              so I believed him.

He said he’d try to do better,

and include me in their life—

                                                              so I believed him.

He said he’d see me

when the world calmed down,

and the borders opened back up—

                                                              so I believed him.

He stopped texting so often,

and still said everything was fine—

                                                              so I believed him.

He stopped asking for updates,

and forgot where I worked—

He visited his friends,

and invited me to their table—

He updated the world,

and not his own child—

So when the day came,

and the wedding dress fit—

when I needed a hand,

and a man who had stayed—

I told him a friend had stepped up to the plate,

And that he would not give me away.

He said,

“Anything you want,”

and that it was okay—

                                                              so I believed him.