Reverse Betrayal Poem by Lehlonolo Tshukudu

I gave you love like a man with no backup plan,
like my heart didn't come with a spare.
Every late night call, every "are you okay? ",
I was there… I was always there.

I poured into you like I was trying to fill a void
that wasn't even mine to fix.
Ignored the cracks, the signs, the silence…
I called it "patience" — you called it "just how I am."

I made you my priority
while you made me your option.
I held you like something sacred,
you held me like something temporary.

And still… I stayed.

I stayed when it felt one-sided.
Stayed when love started sounding like excuses.
Stayed when my peace started packing its bags
and my dignity stood at the door asking,
"Are we really doing this? "

Yeah… I stayed.

Then one day,
you found "better."

Or at least… you thought you did.

You looked at him the way I begged you to look at me.
Listened to him the way you ignored me.
Chose him… effortlessly,
while I had to fight just to be seen.

That part?
That part broke something in me I still can't explain.

But here's the twist life doesn't warn you about…

He wasn't me.

He didn't carry you with care.
Didn't study your silence.
Didn't love you through your chaos.

He played you.

The same way you played me…
just cleaner… colder… quicker.

And now you know what it feels like
to give your all and watch it mean nothing.
To replay memories like a punishment.
To question your worth over someone
who never questioned losing you.

Now your tears speak the language
I was fluent in.

But here's the difference…

I loved you.

He didn't.

And maybe…
just maybe…
that's your karma,
wrapped in heartbreak.

Because losing me
was never your punishment…

Realizing what you lost
is.