The distance

I am here
And you are there,
Miles away from me.
My thoughts roam the distance
And my doubts
Mark the miles.
You are independent.
I know this.
You won’t accept my help.
And I respect this
Without understanding it.
But you won’t accept
My compliments.
You deflect them
With a sad smile.
You care about me.
I know this.
But “I like you”
Is a poor substitute
For “I love you.”
And even though
I know
They mean the same thing,
They ring in my ears
So very differently.
Whereas I am a romantic
And an optimist,
You don’t believe
You deserve
What we could have.
And I know
As well as
Things may go,
You will one day
Trigger the end
Of our relationship.
I could leave now
And spare myself
The pain
Of the end.
But I prefer to try
And share the meaning
In our relationship
That I have found.
I am here.
And you are there.
But it’s not distance alone
That separates us.