I used to take
whatever was given—
half-answers,
half-effort,
half-love dressed up
like it was enough.
I told myself
it was patience,
that waiting meant loyalty,
that settling
was just another word
for understanding.
But I learned—
the hard way—
that you can give your whole heart
to something
that never planned
to meet you halfway.
And it will still take.
So I stopped.
Stopped explaining
why I deserve more.
Stopped shrinking
to make room
for people
who never made space for me.
Because love
isn’t supposed to feel
like convincing.
It isn’t supposed to feel
like earning.
It shows up.
It stays.
It chooses you
without hesitation.
And now—
I don’t want almost.
I don’t want someday.
I don’t want potential
that never turns real.
I want something steady.
Something sure.
Something that doesn’t
leave me guessing
where I stand.
Nothing but the best—
not because I’m perfect,
but because I finally learned
I don’t have to be
to deserve it.
Through the Fog 