Originally written in August 20, 2013 | Updated in 2025
This is a semi-fictional and original work by Jonah Chipeco.
Caught Between Wanting and Waiting
After being left without a goodbye,
I found someone who stayed.
He made time.
He made effort.
And eventually, I began calling him the man I love.
But love that lingers without deep roots
can still drift.
When Presence Isn’t Enough
“You’re leaving? Why?” he asked me,
confused, hurt, maybe a little scared.
I couldn’t answer—not yet.
Because how do you explain
that love isn’t just being there…
It’s choosing someone completely.
Yes, he gave me parts of himself.
But it always felt like only a portion.
His affection was real,
but sometimes it felt… shared.
The Questions I Couldn’t Answer
He looked at me again.
“Aren’t you satisfied with what we have?”
And then, softer:
“Do you still love me?”
I wanted to say yes.
But the real answer was harder.
Yes, I love you.
But I don’t feel fully loved in return.
Yes, I care.
But I don’t feel claimed.
And that makes all the difference.
A Voice That Brought Me Back
“Hey, don’t say goodbye.”
I was so deep in my own thoughts,
I didn’t realise I was rehearsing the goodbye I hadn’t said.
It was the man I choose to love—
steady beside me,
quietly pulling me into a new kind of presence.
A Choice I Had to Make
He held my hand gently.
“If you say goodbye, he won’t let you go,” he warned.
But in my heart,
I knew I didn’t need a dramatic ending.
I didn’t need to explain what should have been clear.
Love is not only about holding on—
it’s about knowing when to release.
And this man—the one standing beside me now—
he didn’t ask for explanations.
He offered a future.
One I could finally say yes to.
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