It's okay to say Goodbye

A poem on love lost and lessons learned.

She taught me things

Like love in Spring

What beautiful days

Lost within in her gaze

She believed in me

Even when I couldn’t see

She helped me be more carefree

When I struggled with anxiety

It’s okay to be sad, she’d say

Everyone has bad days

I helped her on bad days too

Looking back, she certainly grew

Looking back, I think we both did

Our story simply ended

No one cheated, no one yelled

No one lied or withheld

She said to me it’s okay to cry

And that it’s okay to say goodbye

--

I wrote this poem recently, years after the breakup. At the time, it was one of the most difficult times of my life. At the time I thought she was the person I'd spend the rest of my life with. I was blindsided by the breakup because, as mentioned in the poem, we didn't have any kind of toxic relationship.

If anything, it was a very healthy and communicative relationship. Regardless, looking back, I can see how she wasn't necessarily the right person for me. I certainly learned a lot from her, and I think she learned a lot from me.

It makes me think about life, and the people in our lives. Some are meant to be there for a long time, some are meant for seasons, some are just mere days. But these people can have everlasting impacts on us. This person is no exception.

I'll always be grateful for the great memories we shared. They were unique to us in that moment in time, when we were those people. We are not the same people we were years ago, but it took those moments, those people, to become who we are today, for better or for worse. I try to look at things in a positive light and learn from these moments.

Ultimately, our time came to an end. She's actually the only ex-girlfriend who I have not spoken with and am not on good terms with. It was her wish to no longer speak, perhaps ever again. If she ever felt she wanted to reach out to me, I'd embrace her with open arms because I do genuinely wish the best for her. But, I loved her, and that's why I let her go.

-JTC