A Valentine For My Old Love

In an old shoebox
hidden in the attic,
there rests among 
my cherished things,
a Valentine
tied with ivory ribbon.
It was never sent.

The love it represents
is still as fresh
in my mind
as the scent of the roses
he brought me
every Wednesday,
just because it was
the day we first met.

So many miles and years
now lie between us.
The youthful he and I
have long since moved on,
and he'll never know
the regret I've felt
for what might have been
had I been free to love again.
The pain of that loss is
still fresh in my heart.

I’ll always love him.
I’ll always care.
He’s forever here
in my heart
and one more time
I wonder...
what might have been
had I put a stamp
on my Valentine
and dropped it in the box.

This Valentine’s Day,
as on so many others,
I send out this wish
from my heart to his:

“For what we had,
I wish you love.”

C.J. Heck
Art Delphin Enjolras