2001-05-02 - 4:24 a.m.

When you brought me home

You held me in your big hands

You smiled at me

You did it because you loved me

When I was a little girl

You dreamed for me of amazing things

You cared for me

You did it because you loved me

When I was a scared child

You told me to be strong

I can't remember just being held

You did it because you loved me.

When I was a sick little child

You held me while I had medicine

It was a scary hold

You did it because you loved me.

When I was a hurt child

You told me to stop crying or you'd show me something to cry about.

And the wound got deeper

You did it because you loved me

When I was a child

You didn't say I love you

I thought I could never make you proud

But I know you loved me

When I was a teenager

You didn't understand me

You expected perfection

You did it because you loved me

When I was an overweight teen

You told me to suck in my gut.

The words cut like knives

You did it because you loved me

When I was a dramatic and scared college kid

You passed the phone when I missed you and called to say I missed you.

You don't know how to feel me

You did it because you loved me?

When I was a scared adult

And my world was falling

You never asked me what I was going through

And I couldn't tell you because I loved you.

When I was a shaken career woman

When my heart was breaking

Your humor drove me far from you

You did it because you loved me

When I'm with you

You don't seem proud

They tell me you are

Why can't you

They say you love me

Why can't you

They tell me of my grandfather

Why can't you

They tell me of his spirit

Why can't you

Others listen and don't judge

Why can't you?

I want you to be proud of me

I want you to love me

I want to stop knowing these things

I want to see them

I want to hear them

I want to feel them

And in the absence of all that

you slip away

because you no longer know who I am