you are sitting next to me, so close, i feel fire and all i want to do is tell you, i love you. it's taking everything i have to stop myself from doing that, to keep those three words tucked neatly beneath the tongue and out of light. i get up and move myself across the room and i can feel your eyes burning holes into the shape of your irises behind my ears. i clutch my drink and chase the three words down to my liver. i love you and i am a terrible pretender.
