Teacher

What you received from me and what you didn't—
instead of tallying that ledger, think of your new beloved.

I will teach my child this:
The first condition of love is to expect nothing.
One who deserves your love may not deserve your expectations!
And one who deserves your expectations may not deserve your love.

From the one you truly love, never expect anything.
The one from whom you can only expect—never love them.

I'll teach more:
Living alone is hard,
but far harder still
is mistaking the wrong person for the right one,
losing them after having them,
then living with yet another wrong person.

Let my child know:
Sorrow comes disguised as joy—
there's only one way to recognize it:
learn to look with suspicious eyes
at every happiness.

Seeing you as the father of my child, I wanted to live with you; I couldn't.
So I've decided: seeing you as my child's teacher,
that's how I'll live with you!