I.
I don't know how to explain
platonic love
like this.

II.
I would kiss him
but it wouldn't mean a thing.

III.
Of course I
love him, and of course
I think he's handsome.

IV.
How do I make you see
that loving someone
is not the same
as being in love.

I.
I'll die
spitting out
the words you just threw at me.

II.
I'll be disproving them
my whole **** life.

III.
I hope you're
*******
happy.

I.
Empathy is a struggle
on some days,
and a gushing wound
on others.

I.
You'd imagine me as
jealous of the boy.

II.
But he's too sweet to ever
dislike
for anything.

III.
"I'm here, you know?"
"It's okay if you aren't alright."
"You good?"

IV.
It takes a tenth of the energy
to love someone
that it does
to hate them.

V.
Feels better, too.

I.
Go to
hell
the next time
you remind me of my
body.

II.
I'm well
aware.

III.
I know what I've got
under my shirt.
I know what's
in my jeans.

IV.
I don't need your smile,
your look of condescension.
I don't need a **** thing
from you.

I.
You aren't a *******
superhero.

II.
Try your ******* best,
and you'll never be
saving
anyone.

I.
I began my year
telling people
I was a boy.
It was a good
beginning.

II.
Got so sick
I left school
could barely talk
without panicking
or doubling over
in pain.

III.
Spent so much time
at the hospital -
my mother's been
diagnosed with
cancer.

IV.
He's here now.
I'm happy with him
even if he makes
things harder
on me.

V.
Beginning
another three hundred and some days
with people
I would go into
gunfire for
unasked.

VI.
This year will be better.

VII.
It can't possibly
by worse.