Are Loving: Present Progressive

Titular

Is there such thing as a titular lover, a titular relationship?

When I'm his lover by name

and when people ask, my name pops out

but there's no real connection

and the relationship is superficial

and this titular relationship just binds him to me

I'm a chain which strangles his possibilities

I'm a sign which says back off

but only in a nominal way

because I don't control his heart, unlike what we said we'd do to each other

My hold on him is weakening

I'm just a name

a label of property

He thinks his heart is mine

but that's only because I say so, he agrees, and everybody ships.

I wonder whether without these influences, that his heart will still be mine

because I can't bear to lose myself for someone whose heart "titularly" belongs to me.