even after all this time,

you stand before me with
every scrape,
every bruised knee,
every lie that's ever sat in your mouth
as well as
every time you've hurt someone
by keeping a closed mouth.
you stand before me with
every time you've ever made someone cry
as well as the times
you've wished that your own tears
would fall,
but your face was dry.
you stand before me with
every drunken night,
every black out
and every time you left,
and had yet another girl
make your own bed.
you stand before me with
a selfish heart,
a heavy heart,
a heart that knows that
all you have to do is
stand before me
in all your entirety,
and my arms will always be here,
outstretched,
ready to hold you.