To wish away her developmental delays,
would be to wish away what made her,
her—
the sweetness that was no burden
to those who loved her.

I was a million little pieces of the product
of my existence,
experiences,
memories,
welded together
to create something
beautiful.

Shyness maturing into introvertedness,
her ability to listen rather than speak became more appreciated
by those who loved to hear themselves & be heard.

He captured everything through a lens;
she captured everything on paper.
She could relive things
as she chose to remember them,
& he, as they had been.

Marriage gave her security,
education, possibilities,
children, stability,
for without these things,
she would be like ashes
in the wind.