Amour Douloureux

viii

With each new sentence I watch your
eyes scan, I find myself having a debate
within me, are you still here because
of the story, or because of me?

I know right now that it's the story,
drawing you in with each stroke
of my word.

Later, in the midst of our story,
I'll ask you this question again, and I
guarantee your answer will be a
different one.

Because you picked me up for a reason,
me instead of the billions of books
and people and words.

Because although to you, right now, this
is just a story, to me, you are the reason
I have one.

That's got to count for something,
right?

viii