perhaps she was a moment, a phase, a time in your life

a wave that crashed on the shore, but why aren't you letting her drift away?

you've started to linger a moment too long, laughed a little too loud, held her gaze for a fraction of a second more, become a little intoxicated with her laugh

but you said the hope was lost, her affection was unwanted, that you would move on

so like a wave, let her return to the ocean