“Mauerbauertraurigkeit: the inexplicable urge to push people away; even close friends you really like” -John Koenig’s Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
You said those words
One
Two
Three
You to me
Love between
I didn’t return them
Not right away
Not because they weren’t felt
But I had to figure it out
Ask myself how
Could it be
That you could sincerely mean
What you said
It made me mad
Now I’d have to let you down
What else could be next
Disappointment
Broken promises
Growing resentment
That’s the love I’ve seen
So I smiled and nodded
Left my thoughts under cover
Avoided seeing your face for a while
You never faltered or missed a beat
You followed me slowly
While pacing your steps
I let my thoughts wrestle around
Pointing and judgments
Found insecurities to reprimand
I saw you
After a while
Eyes like home
You stood there and smiled
Purity is the love you emanated
As you kissed my neck
I evaporated
All doubt was gone
I saw myself as I was being seen
Never felt more wholly beautiful
“I love you too”
I meant what I said
I don’t have to ask
I know you did too