legs sprawled out across the patchwork sofa,
he spoke.
"listen
if you're really feeling these things
and they hurt enough to make you act
like this
then, man, they're not stupid things to feel."
he didn't break eye contact,
just looked at me as i laid on the floor
holding back words
and holding back tears.

we made eye contact through the mirror
as she slowly played with my hair behind me
she sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"you know? you just have to force yourself to do what you love."

"what do you miss most in the world?"
"you."
"but i'm right here."
"that's the problem."

"do you love me?"
"i did once."