now i know

Dedicated to L. Erasmus Now I know— What it feels like to wake up and reach for you, Only to find the air where your warmth used to be. Now I know how quiet the world can sound, When your laughter isn’t there to fill it. Now I know what it means To hold a thousand words inside my chest, Because I can’t look into your eyes And simply say, I love you. Now I know that love isn’t always about having— Sometimes it’s about learning to feel from afar, To care without holding, To pray for you more than I ever did before. Now I know that memories are alive— They breathe in every song, Every place we’ve been, Every thought that whispers your name. Now I know I don’t need your presence To feel your impact. You’re woven into my becoming, A gentle echo of grace and truth. Now I know— That even though distance lingers between us, My heart still smiles when I think of you, And I thank God for the part of me That still carries you.