Cardboard

I was wrapped in luxury linen,
And placed in a velvet gift box,
With a bow on top of it,
I felt like the most precious thing.

I felt safe,
Held,
Adored.

But slowly, the velvet slipped away,
The soft linen was stripped,
The bow came undone,
It was only cardboard all along.

Now the box sits in a corner,
Dusty and forgotten,
And so do I.