Cheated

You never thought 

you’d have to choose 

You thought 

you could have both worlds— 

thought you were being faithful 

to both lives 

when you were being faithful 

to neither 

I won’t pretend I’m blameless 

I helped build the lie 

I played my part 

I fed the fire 

My head whispered warnings 

but my heart shut the door 

and begged for the flames 

My heart refused to heed 

the counsel I’d give anyone else 

It always looks different 

from the inside 

I loved with reckless abandon 

I invested carelessly 

And here I am— 

Bereft 

Broken 

Alone 

Your first love 

remains your forever love 

I am the trespasser 

cast as the wrecker 

of a house already broken 

But if I am the wrecker 

why do I feel so wrecked 

Why am I the one 

left in the ashes 

Why is my life 

the one shattered 

by heartbrokenness 

If I am the betrayer 

why does it feel like 

you are walking away 

with pieces of me 

I will never get back 

And if I am the cheater,

why do I feel so— 

cheated.

© Ron Simpson Jr.

December 10, 2025