I held onto every word -
Every "*******"
Every "worthless"
Every "stupid"
Every "I love you" -
And hung them in the rafters
of my memories -
next to love spoiled I could
never give you - to dry.
Left them to roast
in the corners of my heart.
Rinsed them with my
tears and let the aroma of grief
swirl around my being.

I held onto every word -
Every "*******"
Every "worthless"
Every "stupid"
Every "I love you" -
So the next time we met
I could offer you a cup of my grief.
Steep your bitter words in
my own tears
watch as your words
soured on your tongue
and you struggled to swallow
so you could breathe again.

But I switched cups.
Gave you honey and lavender
and drank every word -
Every "*******"
Every "worthless"
Every "stupid"
Every "I love you" -
and soothed my own soul.