Stranger,

How do you make me

feel so rotten,

stranger?

With the wind in your lips

you howl; chasing into

my deepest insecurities.

I wave flurries upon myself.

Though you'll never know

just how cold the taste

of conjured wind curls.

Piercing through the fabric,

chilling my veins,

until the seams tear;

Letting out the frosted air.

How do you make me,

stranger?

How do you make me care?

Hello

Hello.

Had you known I loved you?

Had you known, you would have said

"Hello." right back to me.

You would have turned your head up

and mocked me with a smile.

Because you knew, I loved you.

I taught it to my brain

held it in my palms

& rolled it across my tongue.

& all along,

every breath I took

every part of speech I stuttered

was all an attempt

to say

"Hello. I love you."