one last thing, before you walk away and don't look back

i will allow myself one page and one pen to tell you how i am breaking.

i know you won't read them, but these words are all for you.

i have no right to ask, but i have a few requests before this ends:

be honest when you tell me

be honest when you tell me if we were ever really friends,

be honest when you tell me

be honest when you tell me how many sonnets i'll have to compose before i can let go,

be honest when you tell me

be honest when you tell me how many elegies i'll have to write before i forget,

be honest when you tell me

be honest when you tell me how many scars i'll get,

be honest when you tell me how many scars i'll get, and how many will heal

be honest when you tell me how many scars i'll get, and how many will heal before i forgive.

and oh,

before you go, i need you to know:

that all i've ever wanted is for you to be happy,

and though i might now just be another forgotten childhood friend,

if this chasm between us is how you'll do it,

then i can promise you that i'll jump in.

i know you won't read them, but these words are all for you.

if you can't tell me you love me,

i'll write it down,

i'll write it down, and then i'll burn it.