But I will not give up.

I have been cheated on, lied to, stabbed in the back, and abused—verbally, mentally, and emotionally… but I will not give up.
I have been drained, broken, torn apart, and severely wounded… but I will not give up.
I have been used, neglected, taken for granted, mocked, and laughed at… but I will not give up.
I have been drained, I have been broken, my heart has suffered many cuts as well as devastating blows, and I have experienced many headaches and heartaches… but I will not give up.
I have given time to confusion, I have been left disappointed, and there was the one occasion wherein I all but lost my mind… but I will not give up.
I have made my mistakes and I have slept in the hard beds made by them, I have found comfort in a place of sorrow, and I have covered myself in the blankets of fear… but I will not give up.
My knees are stained by scars as I have fallen to my knees several times, I have prayed until I had no more words to offer to God, I have soaked pillows with tears, I have cried out from the depths of my soul, and I have ached from every part of my being. Yet still, I will not give up.
I will never give up. Because I know that the breath I use to utter the words “I quit” will come right before the breath I take while throwing my arms in the air with clinched fists to claim victory.
I have held my heart out, and too became a live witness to its bludgeoning on multiple occasions. Yet, I will never give up on love, because in the end it’s always those that never give up, that win. And when I win, I will use everything I have been through as the fuel to love just that much harder.
Will you?

JLFord