They wonder how she could possibly love you -
She wonders how she could not.
They say how dare she renounce them in favour of you -
She says because you love her more than all of them combined.
You understand her, without her ever having to say a word.
You know how selfish she is, how manipulative, how untruthful -
How hideous.
But you love her anyway.
She knows how you try your best to mitigate all that would crush her if given the chance, and although you both know how futile your efforts are, she finds your valiant attempts endearing nonetheless.
Your loyalty to her knows no bounds.
And though there are times she just can’t breathe, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She didn’t expect this day to start out any differently, but she will admit this, just this once and only in this moment -
That she had wished for another beginning.
But you’ve done your best.
And it’s moments like these that she knows she did right by staying with you.
Because you do love her, for all that you pretend otherwise.
She used to wonder why they couldn’t love her.
And though you couldn’t make her forget, you showed her that someone could.
Happy 91st my dear, and congratulations on turning 21.