Alone, meet Compromise

Alone is the best boyfriend I've ever had.

He never complains that my apartment is too hot

or tells me I bought the wrong kind of almond milk.

He doesn’t leave his dirty underwear on the floor,

next to the laundry hamper,

seemingly out of spite but really out of obliviousness.

He doesn’t take up the whole goddamn bed

or use too much of my expensive shampoo

or stay up all night playing video games.

Alone only ever does

exactly what I want to do.

Alone never makes me feel lonely.

He makes me feel strong,

Capable,

like I’m queen of the world,

my world,

the only world that matters

when I’m with him.

But the second that someone else appears

Alone slinks away into the darkness

to be replaced by

Compromise

and his friends Guilt

and Obligation.

Alone tells me it’s okay to be selfish,

to take my time.

He lets me cry

without having to explain why.

I always miss him when he leaves

because no one else seems good enough.

But Alone can’t hold me when I’m scared

or make me laugh when I’m sad.

He can’t cook me dinner

or kiss my sleepy lips before he leaves for work.

He can’t hold my hand on the way to the grocery store

or water my plants when I forget to.

He can’t reach that tippity top shelf

or rub my aching shoulders.

Alone is wonderful

but maybe

Compromise isn’t such a bad guy.