Separating a friendship and love
when that was all you wanted to feel for him.
All you could feel.
When the friendship made the love way too easy
But, I guess for you it was too hard.
The two things were so intertwined
through our minds
we couldn’t figure out how to pick a side.
it was eternal love
I tell myself
because my soul felt it
we both dealt with
the cards we were handed
but you
wanted to keep your hands hidden
when you knew you had the winning hand the entire time.
you folded.
played it safe.
if we played 2 out of 3 maybe I’d see you sometimes
but you
only had time for one game.
yet I wanted your ten million kisses.
Your heart to love.
Your mind to wonder on my lonely nights,
your words to caress through my fear.
your eyes to stare into whenever it felt right
your, forever.
but you
only had time for that single game with me
and,
I wanted so much more
with you
with you
I could’ve watched you
watch me forever
could’ve sat and let you lie to me
forever
I feared,
I would’ve let you hold my hand till whenever
——
you felt you needed to let go.
And eventually, you did.
Holding you was the last thing I wanted to lose
But feeling your warmth was the perfect reason for me to stay in our bliss.
NABJ board member Leilah Abree James
Leilah James, 4th year Exercise Science major with a concentration in Kinesiology, lj931611@wcupa.edu