I met you on one of the worst days of my life,

But you didn’t know that yet.

I pretended to be busy when you walked by my desk,

So you wouldn’t see me upset.

But little did I know, you would soon save my soul,

One eye roll and sigh at a time.

When I needed a life vest, you jumped in instead,

Pushed me up when I couldn’t climb.

I was drowning in grief with so many unknowns,

Five kids hung in the in-between.

You listened and smiled, gave advice, laughed and cried,

A support beam on whom I could lean.

But the best parts of all were your wounds just like mine,

Only yours were all stitched up and healed.

So you helped me heal mine, body and mind,

From shared days on the battlefield.

You taught me that love after war could exist,

You taught me to love the new me.

You showed me that scars are a privilege of life,

Tattoos for the strong and the free.

Our time was too short, you soon moved out of state,

Took my heart in the best possible way.

Now you visit sometimes, but only in dreams,

Which is what brought you to mind today.

I woke with a smile and your name on my lips,

I hope you are doing well.

I miss your sweet wit, your hugs and your words,

I’ve missed you more than I can tell.

But sometimes happy endings are just what they say:

Happy but also the end,

So farewell to you now, almost lover indeed,

But always, forever, my friend.