Before I Knew Love

Before you came, I only knew

A love that bruised and never grew

But you arrived like gentle rain

And washed away my quiet pain

I built my walls, kept people out

My heart was wrapped in fear and doubt

I made it hard to let love in

'Cause every time, I couldn't win

But you didn't ask for doors to break

You knocked with care, for both our sakes

You stayed outside until I tried

Then held me when I cried inside

You didn't rush, you didn't shove

You whispered what I thought unlove

Now piece by piece, you've shown me how

To trust again, right here and now

You traced the edges of my soul

And showed me healing can be slow

You didn't fix the things I feared

You simply stayed and wiped my tears

Before I knew what love could be

I thought it only came to leave

But now I see, with you it's clear

That real love stays when pain is near

You changed the shape of what I knew

Taught me that love is seeing through

Not through rose glass, but deeper sight

You held my dark and gave it light

You didn't say, "Be someone new"

You said, "I want the realest you"

That kind of grace, that quiet tone

Made me feel safe and not alone

You broke no rules, you made no sound

But still you turned my world around

You helped me breathe, and now I do

Because your love was calm and true

Now every time I try to run

You hold my hand, but never shun

You walk beside me, never lead

And that's the kind of love I need

Before I knew what love could be

I thought it only came to leave

But now I see, with you it's clear

That real love stays when pain is near

You taught me love could still begin

Even in places I'd kept in

And now I love-because you stayed

When all my colors turned to gray