The end came with a whisper.

A quiet acknowledgement on the eve of my 39th birthday that we were no longer capable of moving forward together.

The breath catches in my throat when I think of the beauty gained from knowing this man; the place he carved in my life.

I am grateful for having shared a piece of this journey with him.

I am in awe of what his love taught me.

And so on my birthday, I choose to celebrate the many blessings of my life;

to thank God for all of those he has chosen to walk this road with me, even those who aren’t here to stay.