His 9 was my 6

You said I never tried enough, But I thought showing up was love. I held your hand through quiet storms, But never knew how deep they cut. You wanted words — I gave you time. You wanted truth — I gave you signs. You asked for more than I could name, And all I gave felt just… the same. I saw your tears, I heard your cries, But all I did was memorize The way your anger masked your ache — I thought, “She’s mad. I’ll give her space.” I didn’t read between your lines. I thought we’d heal with passing time. But silence grew where warmth had been, And now I hear you… in your pen. The book you wrote — it speaks of me. A ghost of what I tried to be. You say I vanished, broke your heart… But darling, I was torn apart. I wasn’t right, I wasn’t kind — But I was scared and misaligned. And when you said you'd tell them all, I built a wall. I let us fall. You called it love. I called it pain. Two hearts that broke beneath the strain. We both were right in our own way — But I regret I walked away.