scheduled a meeting with you
in spite of myself.

wrote down a couple of guidelines.

    "be polite. be friendly.
    avoid her eyes, and her hair as well,
    do not look at her legs, do not look
    for flirty subtext in her casual
    conversation. ask the right questions.
    don't stammer. remember you are not 13.
    don't look at her and smile and say
    'I love you'
    when all you should be saying is
    'goodbye.'"

tried not to worry; after all, it's just
a crush.

after all, I am not really
in love with you
that
much.

That laugh is a symphony to one's ears
Those eyes glow with intensity and wonderment
Those lips, soft to the touch, so sweet to the taste
Those hands reaching, caressing my face
But it's that smile i won't forget
That smile could melt a thousand hearts, win wars, take away tiredness and pain
That smile is locked away in a museum of my mind, forever hung up and frequently visited
That smile will never leave me

Stop and breathe
It isn't worth it
Try and pull back
I know how the tunnel vision works
I've been there
I've seen the darkness
But I promise,
There is a light
You may not know right now
With anxiety high as the sky
Listen to me now
Focus on one voice-
The valleys are as beautiful as the mountains
Take a step away
Make a little distance
Breathe the cold, fresh air
I promise
I promise you'll see it
There is a light, beyond the horizon
Just keep climbing

I am the book in the back of a library
Lost and hidden away collecting dust.
Spine broken; pages torn and faded
My cover ripped away long ago.

A story once filled with brilliant vibrancy
Now damaged beyond repair.
I am nothing but an unknown story
Forgotten and left without a title.

-ARI