The Letter I Almost Didn't Give
My world was ink and turning page,
A quiet life, a shielded stage.
Then you arrived, a curious grace,
To tutor your sister, you found your place
Beside me, in the hallowed room,
Dispelling shadows, chasing gloom.
We spoke of books, of ancient lore,
Of Austen’s wit and so much more.
You loved my books, my classic quest,
And tried the things I loved the best.
If I loved dress-up, you would try,
With boyish charm and twinkling eye.
No outdoor games, no noisy strife,
Just quiet words, enriching life.
Your skin, dark chocolate, a sweet surprise,
Soft, curly black hair, beneath calm skies.
A gentle soul, though chaos flows,
But always soft, as everyone knows.
You never raised your voice at me,
Even when anger simmered free.
Respectful, kind, a rare, true find,
A solace for my anxious mind.
When shadowed grief obscured your day,
And your dear mother passed away,
I penned a letter, brave and deep,
My secret feelings I would keep
From you, for then. I praised your might,
Your sister’s anchor, shining light.
But held one line, a fragile plea,
“I like you” — just for me to see.
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Months later, courage took its hold,
The full confession, brave and bold.
“Like as in Lizzie Bennet,” I said,
A joke of Darcy in my head.
You smiled, “I like you too, I guess,”
My heart took flight in sweet duress.
“Like as in?” “Like as in Mr. Darcy’s heart.”
Then grabbed your sister, played your part,
And ran away, leaving me to scream,
A joyous, wild, impossible dream.
Our ‘unofficial official’ bond,
A silent promise, stretching beyond
The prying eyes, the world’s harsh gaze,
Lost in our secret, tender maze.
Then came your texts, a morning’s art,
“Hello, my lady,” warming my heart.
For MUN, you woke before the dawn,
No parents watching, bravely drawn
To tell me, “You’re amazing, dear,
You’re gonna win, banish all fear!”
And then, a softer, whispered line,
“I… I love you.” So profound, divine.
No casual text, no shallow sound,
But Cupid’s arrows spun around
My waiting heart. I couldn’t reply,
But weeks of silence lingered by.
You pouted, sweet, then understood,
Your patient waiting, truly good.
I whispered words, “I love you too,”
But even then, they weren’t quite true
To all, I feel, this surging tide,
The mushy brain I cannot hide.
Your voice, a melody so clear,
I count the minutes ’til you’re near.
But when you’re here, my tough act starts,
Protecting all my breaking parts.
You make me special, truly seen,
A first for me, a tranquil scene.
No toxic ego, crying free,
You bring the best, the realest me.
My knees grow weak when you just smile,
I love him, I love him, all the while.
This boy I tutor, kind and true,
And oh my heart, he loves me too.
