I used to think love was a risk I couldn’t afford.
Too loud. Too messy. Too much to lose.
So I kept receipts.
Kept my heart in a drawer and called it “safe.”
But love isn’t always the big moments.
Sometimes it’s small.
Someone remembering you hate cold coffee.
Someone staying on the phone when you’ve got nothing to say.
Someone giving you room,
and not using it as a reason to leave.
Love isn’t bad.
I just didn’t know what it asked for yet.
Understanding when I’m not making sense.
Patience when I’m slow to trust.
It’s not fixing you.
It’s sitting next to you while you fix yourself.
It’s not perfect.
It’s present.
I’m still learning it.
And maybe love isn’t the storm.
Maybe it’s what makes the storm bearable.
A room with the window open.
Air you can actually breathe.
Kearabilwe Dioka is a young South African poet, writer, and competitive reader from the North West province. She is widely recognized for her creative writing and notable achievements in national youth arts competitions.