By Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

I love you
Three words
They are
Simple
Soothing
Strong
Sweet
Smooth
Solid

I love you
Three words
Till there is
Doubt
Deceit
Denial
Disappointment

I love you
Can be three words spoken from the heart
Can be three words just to keep the peace
Can be three words to fill in blank spaces

I love you
It answers many questions
It asks so much more
Will it be forever?

Is it just for now?
When I am better?
When I am worse?
When I am glad?
When I am sad?
When I am rich?
When I am poor?
When I am well?
When I am not?
How will you love me?
When you hold me, does your heart beat like mine does?
For the same reasons?
When you sing for me, does your heart sing too?
When I am not there, do you remember?

I love you
Forever
For now and always
For better
For worse
For richer
For poorer
In sickness
In health
All these things and more

I love you
But not without conditions

Unconditional love ends badly
I love you
Yet, I have conditions
You will always choose me
You will respect me
You will value me
You will not make me cry
You will not need reminders
You will not be a beast
You will not be a snake

I love you
Not without conditions
You will not be the weapon fashioned against me
You will not make me feel small so you can be bigger
You will not treat my wins as a loss for you
You will not turn me into a living ghost
You will not bring wars to my doorstep
You will delight in my success
I will celebrate yours
You will fight my battles even when the enemy is unclear
I will face your enemies real and imagined
I will draw out all the weapons I have for you
I will protect you
I will give you peace
I will guard you
I will guide you

I will sit under the trees with you in the forest
I will search for water with you in dry places
All because you will do the same for me too

I love you
All the time, all the years
Right up till I lay my head on your shoulder
One last time
Or you lay yours on mine
One last time
Just like Jaime said to Claire in ‘Outlander’
‘If the last words I say to you are not ‘I love you’
Know that it is because there was no time’
Even if I don’t, you will know
I love you
Now, forever and always

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Leadership Coach, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com