Say You Love Me

When I came to visit you

You were still writing in that notebook

And when you looked up

A hopeful gaze, a trusting embrace

I sat down beside you

It almost hurt to do so

We hadn't talked in so long

But you were always busy with your new theories

Always figuring something out

You continued to scribble on

As if I wasn't there

But then stopped abruptly

You twisted the pen this way and that

Before you pointed at my hand over and over again

I looked down at the band that encircled my finger

You should have known I would've moved on

I could see the questions swirling in that mind of yours

So I told you the story

We met my first year of college

He was Mr. Nice

The kind of guy who still had manners

Who opened the door for a woman

He was smart and sweet and there

He focused on what was important

It was our junior year when he asked me to marry him

I told him yes

I would marry him

I noticed at this point you went back to writing

You had tuned me out

I came all this way to visit you

And you couldn't stop writing for a minute

So I grabbed your pen and threw it somewhere far away

I grasped your arm and told you to listen to what I had to say

Your blues eyes stared wide-eyed into mine

I sighed, knowing you were upset

I would probably regret that

But I wanted you to listen

Because you never do

I told him yes

Do you not get that

I told him yes

Yes, yes, do you not understand

What that means?

You turned and looked at me with such anger

And for a moment I was glad

You felt something inside come alive

Something you couldn't quite explain

A formula that didn't exist in that pen and pad

Yeah, I understand perfectly

You said

No, you don’t

You looked away

And threw your pad to the side

As you drew your hands together, clenched and tight

I don’t know what you want me to get

To understand

You whispered

Trying to calm down

I said yes

—I get that

You said "yes" I understand

—No you don’t

I said yes, which means I gave up you

I gave up the opportunity to be with you

Because I loved you

And you never saw that

You never looked past that stupid pen and pad

So I said yes to someone who would

Who would love me in all aspects

Treat with me respect

I said yes to that

You reached over and grabbed my hand

I closed my eyes

Warmth flooded in

Tears were flowing down

And I didn't have the strength

To pull away

To leave

Because you still made me feel

Something I never can feel with him

So I open my eyes and whisper in the dawning light

Tell me you love me

Say you love me too

Because I know you do

You can’t explain it

And that kills you

Because you want so badly to

You don’t understand what's happening

How you’re feeling

There’s no formula

No equation, just your heart

Not your mind, so say it

I need to hear it

Please, tell me

Say you love me too

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