I told him:

You aren’t merely a replacement
for the husband
who walked away.

He looked at me
concern clouding his face.
He ached to understand.

I smiled.
My heart overflowed
until a tear spilled
as I explained:

You filled the place
that stood empty always.

You took the place in my life,
in my heart,
that had never been filled,
for it could only be filled
by you.

He smiled
as understanding
awakened
at last.