If I Stop

Just a poem -- albeit, not a happy one, but a poem none the less.

I love you -- but I'm hurting you.
I'm scared -- and that scares you, too.
I feel like my lungs are collapsing, and so you lend me your breath.
And if I stopped breathing -- would you stop, too?

I love you -- but I'm scaring you.
I cry too much -- and you cry with me.
I feel like I'm dying, and so you lend me your heart.
And if I stopped living -- would you stop, too?

I love you -- but I'm making you cry.
I'm trying -- and so are you.
I feel like I've become so weak, and so you lend me your strength.
And if I stopped fighting -- would you stop, too?

I haven't stopped breathing -- I've given back your breath.
I haven't stopped living -- I've tried giving back your heart, but you say it's mine to keep.
I haven't stopped fighting -- I've returned most of your strength.

I'm here with you now and I love you so much.
I trust you because I know you care -- I know you love me.
If you keep living, I'll live with you.
And if you died, I would, too.

Author's Note

I don't think I mentioned this in my Bio, but I used to be a cutter (and have to fight it every day), and so that's what this poem's about.