I Was Enough by Valerie Parente

Sometimes I wish I was enough
but then I remember
I was enough to freak you out
I was enough to take your time
I was enough to get under your skin
I was enough to move your mind
I was enough to cause concern
I was enough to pick a fight
I was enough to hurt your feelings
and I was enough for you to apologize
over the course of years and years that went by.

I don’t wish I was enough any more
because I recognize this back-and-forth
I was way too much at the end of the day
and I know that’s why I couldn’t stay.

– Valerie Parente (6-8-2020)