Us - by David Lilly-West

Whenever someone asks about my favorite movie, the first thing that comes to mind is always the After franchise. Inevitably, the next question is, “But weren’t Hardin and Tessa toxic?” And I won’t deny that they were. Their love was messy and painful, but through the chaos, they found themselves—and they found each other.What always stayed with me was the song “Us” by James Bay, used to begin and end their story. It doesn’t promise an easy love. Instead, it speaks about the trials that come with something real, and the belief that if two people are willing to fight through the hurt, the darkness, and the work, then love can survive.So tell me how to be in this worldTell me how to breathe in and feel no hurtTell me how ’cause I believe in somethingI believe in usTell me when the light goes outThat even in the dark we can find a way outTell me now ’cause I believe in somethingI believe in usI believe in somethingAnd I believe in usThe poem that follows is inspired by these lyrics and the idea that love is not defined by ease, but by endurance—the willingness to move through pain and still choose one another. I Believe in UsSo tell me how to stand in this worldWith my hands shaking, heart split open,Tell me how to breatheWhen every breath still remembers the hurt.Love was never the easy road—It’s the long way around the fire,The part where you walk barefootThrough pain, through torture, through quiet tormentAnd still decide not to turn back.When the light goes outAnd the dark feels louder than hope,I search for you in the shadows,Because even thereI believe we can find a way out.We bruise, we break, we doubt—But something keeps pulling us closer,Something stubborn, something alive,A faith that refuses to let go.I believe in somethingBigger than fear, stronger than the damage done.I believe in somethingThat survives the nights that try to end us.And if love asks for work,For patience carved out of pain,Then I’ll learn every hard lesson it demands—Because if it’s strong,It will pass through it all.Tell me how, tell me now—When everything says run,I still choose to stay.I believe in something.And I believe in us. Real love isnt meant to be easy, its meant to hurt sometimes, sometimes it feels like the other person is giving up maybe because of whatever is going on around them, that’s when you come in, when the other has 10 percent of energy that’s where you bring in the remaining 90 It comes with trials, sometimes pain, sometimes anger, sometimes trauma that never healed, trust issues insecurities but as long as you both believe in each other, then true love will always prevail.

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