Today I got tired of looking in the mirror and seeing the same old look

A suit of armor thicker than the Great Wall of china

I decided maybe it was time for a change

I put away the suit of armor and decide to just put my heart on my sleeve

I look in the mirror and wimp out just before I leave

Grabbing my suit and I run out the door

That was the day I met you

You who had a smile that shined brighter than the sun

You who had eyes that had seen a million lifetimes worth of hurt and heartache

You whose laugh sounded like the ringing bells that gave angels their wings

You, whose armor was as thick as mine

I went home that day not really understanding the complexity of what had just happened

Two walls had ran into each other and were fighting on who was strongest

The next day I suffer the same battle in my head

Armor

Or not armor

My resolve falters a bit and so I put a little of the suit away not quite able to put it all to the side

We hung out again that day

You had a smug grin when you beat me at a card game when I'd almost won

Then told me how good I'd actually done

You introduced me to friends and co-workers as if you'd already accepted me into your inner circle

I'd found that so astounding

That night when you walked me home you told me about some of the hard shifts going on in your life and I saw your armor start to crack

There was weakness in your shields, but in that weakness there was strength

That was the night you kissed me for the first time

It's been several months now

I only have a little armor left on but that armor has cracks

I've given you all of me in return for your safekeeping of my heart

You keep my grounded while also letting me fly

You keep smiles on my face even through tears

You made all the pain of my past worth living through because it meant that I got to be with you

And for that, I love you