The antithesis of force

I have been waiting
For these feelings to fade
Expecting to wake up one morning
Only to find the spark extinguished while we slept
But the moment doesn't come
As the minutes have turned to hours
Days
Weeks
Months
Now years


I still thrill at the idea of you
Fizz in the pit of my stomach
A sting at my tear duct
As you find new ways
To make me feel
In places I thought went cold
Blown away as dust
By breezes I no longer remember


I resisted then
Afraid or unwilling
To admit I was worth the time
And the kindness of gentle words
You persisted
Unafraid and willing
To devote long hours to convincing me
Knowing proof is in the staying
Rather than in the spoken


You wore down the walls
With the antithesis of force
Choosing patience over prodding
Dropping rough gems of endearment
In my path
The dull glint attractive to me in ways
The glare of false promise could never be


We speak the words of depth rarely
Playing at mere tolerance of one another
Like children on Opposite Day
But we both know the truth
Sitting warm and firm at the bases of us
Our beneficial battle of wills
Repeating "you're stuck with me."