Abby Gael S. Villabelez | To the one I used to love

to you who had to unlearn so much about so many things

sorry for breaking your heart

for loving them more, for making them stay

while a gap between us grows like the sea on a beach in a low tide

I heard you giggling with the crackle of a flowering agony

caught you smiling in the mirror as bitterness lurks behind

I miss you and the good old days when we were one

crying our tears of joy and pain and gratitude

I promise to be strong

for you, to live in peace

surpassing our limitations

to spoil you with feats and great lessons

to love you even more

---

Abby Gael S. Villabelez is a 20-year-old teacher education student at JH Cerilles State College, majoring Math. She is a member of her school's literary circle Alampat. She is from San Pablo.