I don’t love you.
Not the way they think I do.
I love the way you laugh at your own jokes,
The way your smile reaches your eyes,
But not in the way they think I would.
I love the way you rant when you’re excited,
When your brain creates thoughts into ideas
And ideas into “could be’s”
But I don’t love you.
Not in the way they say I do.
I don’t dream of wearing a white dress,
Standing by your side.
I dream of saying
“I love you,”
Without weirding you out.
Without someone freaking out
Because your a guy,
And I’m a girl,
And society says we won’t stay friends,
That we can only be more
Or nothing at all.

But I like being friends,
I don’t want anything more.
Not in the way they think I do.

I liked the way you hugged me,
But not for the reason they think.
I love the way you care,
But give me space instead of pressing.
You distract me from my pain,
My thoughts,
My worries.
And I welcome it,
But not the way they’d assume.

I love you,
But not the way they think I do.