I guess I should have known all along

that I would be trading affection for pain,

that my efforts and Patience would be

so casually tossed aside

and rewarded once again

with disappointment.

Sure, I feel broken,

but I've been broken before,

and I'll heal one more time

and maybe even more,

because you're just the latest

to raise up my hopes

and then crush them underfoot,

to make me believe

that I at least had a chance with you

when apparently I never did at all.