The Town You Were Passing Through

I unfolded a new map today. The paper smells like promise and a little bit like fear. 

So many roads I get to choose from. My finger traces a coastline and my heart beats a little too fast— the good kind of fast. 

The kind that says, go.

And for a minute, the sadness hits.

Not because you’re not here to see it.But because I finally understand.

I was drawing us a future with your name next to mine on every street. 

But you never even had me on your map. I wasn't a destination.

Just a town you were passing through.

And this new road? It's better. 

Because it's the first one that was 

always, 

only, 

mine.