Better Than – Poem

I deserved better.
better than those crumbs
better than the lies you fed me
about work at the epicenter
of lock-down

I deserved an explanation
for her late-night calls
and her gleaming smirk
when little did I know
you two still talked

I deserved better
than a one-day notice
and a one-sided story
about us

I deserved better
than meaningless words
and your heart-eyed emojis
in other girls’ inbox

I deserved a conversation,
to be looked into the eye
day or night when we talked
I deserved warmer hugs and,
what were we, after all?

I deserved an explanation
about the things I was
too innocent to be aware of

I deserved whatever a queen gets
after a night of what she thought
was love, instead of callous shrugs

I deserved the attention
you gave internet girls,
a warm hello, not the U-turn
I took in life because you
made me do so.

I deserved a response
I deserved to be known of
I deserved loyalty
I deserved reciprocity
I deserved it all

But come to think of it,
none of you men
deserved my love.