There is a risk involved in everything：
Every time you share a smile，
Every time you shed a tear，
You are opening yourself up to hurt.
Some people tread slowly through life，
Avoiding the closeness risk brings，
Sidestepping the things they can not understand，
Turning away from those who care too much—
Those who care stay too long，
Those who hold too tightly.
There is never an easy way to love.
You cannot approach it cautiously.
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.
It does not care if you turn away.
It is everywhere， it is everything.
Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable， it is not cautious，
It is not sympathetic.
It is unprejudiced and unmerciful.
It strikes the strongest of mind，
And brings them to their knees in one blow.
Even in the best of times， love hurts.
It hurts to need， it hurts to belong，
It hurts to be the other part of someone else，
Without either of your consent.
But， from the moment it 1)overtakes you，
It hurts worse to be all alone.
The risk of love never 2)depletes；
It grows stronger and more dangerous with time.
But， it is in the total surrender of all defenses
That we， no matter weak or strong，
No matter willing or 3)captive，
No matter what， we truly experience love.
Despite the many things love is not，
Outweighing it all are the things that love is：
Love is surrender without a loss.
It is a gift without the cost.
It consumes your every thought and desire，
Every breath you take.
It is the fire that fuels you
To do more than pass through life；
It urges you， instead， to live.