Little Lies

What if you weren’t who I thought you were?
And all this angst,
this hair shirt,
were for naught?

What if you were just a fevered dream?
And my self-flagellation
was for someone no more real
than a fairy tale?

Oh tell me, please
that I haven’t suffered in vain.
That I haven’t sacrificed
beauty
health
peace of mind
over a you that never was.

Even if it’s a lie, just whisper in my ear
that yes, you were worth it after all.