I didn't always like you
Romantically, I mean

But one day I noticed you
I mean, really and truly noticed you

The way you smiled
The way you laughed

The way you spoke
The way you listened

And I found myself standing there
With butterflies in my stomach and heart

But I was frightened and ashamed of the way I felt
I thought it was unrealistic to hope for anything to happen

So I tucked them away
Under "Feelings that won't ever come to light"

And I contented myself with being your friend
Because I didn't want to lose you

I was happy
For a while, anyway

Every so often those feelings would surface
And I'd sort of vaguely distance myself for a bit

Once they were under control again,
I'd act as if nothing had happened and go back to "normal."

But eventually those feelings started clawing at me
Tearing me apart and stressing me to my breaking point

So I wrote about those feelings
Calling you my "close friend"

But then I wrote about them again
Calling you my "somebody who I like"

And you noticed the second time and I
I felt my stomach twist

I worried that you would be disgusted
Having your friend turn out to have romantic feelings for you

So I went with the other person I "liked"
Who I ended up feeling platonic about (and so did she)

But then I wrote again, with you nagging at my mind
About letting anyone tell me that they liked me

And you replied and,
And I've never been happier.