Laughin in Love

To stand before love once more,
after sorrow has carved its name
into the hollow chambers of my heart—
is not betrayal.
It is remembrance.

You, who once walked beside me,
who held my hand through storms
and taught me the sacred rhythm
of hearts beating in unison—
you are not replaced.
You are echoed.

For in the way I reach out now,
with trembling hope and open palms,
it is your wisdom that steadies me,
your laughter that softens me,
your patience that reminds me:
Love is not a flame that dies
when one candle goes out—
it is the fire that lights the next.

To love again
is not to forget you.
It is to honor
the gift you gave—
that I am capable of loving at all.

So let no tear I shed for another
dim the light of your memory.
Rather, let it shine through them,
each glance, each touch,
each whispered word of trust—
a monument to you,
the first to teach me
what love could truly be.