Built into your eyes

You were tapping on your phone

I was outside, walking back to my place

You caught a glimpse of my reflection 

in your rearview mirror

I saw your eyes set on somewhere

I never thought they could be

On me

It was then I got your text

I'm sorry

I froze, turned around 

And looked you dead in the eyes

You hadn't taken your glance off of me

Instead, you'd pulled your car up 

Next to the curb of the sidewalk

I wish I could say that I'd just walked past you that day

But I didn't

I walked straight up to your window

And knocked until you rolled it down

I told you, "Oh, so now you're sorry?"

And then turned on my heel, not saying another word 

Until I heard,

"Wait don't leave. Just please don't leave."

I spun around, and you flinched

"I've been meaning to... I-I love you."

You spoke slowly, each word thought out carefully

I froze again, but this time

I didn't have any clever wordplay to form a comeback

Warmth flooded my chest

Because these were the three words I'd wanted to hear, forever

Words, that should've come out a long time ago

"I'm afraid you're a bit too late for that."

You took in a sharp breath, and I leaned my head against the car

And then I just stared

Stared deeply into your green, glassy eyes

Noticing every micro line built into them

Every memory, every dance

Had been inbuilt into those burning eyes

And then I realized,

No matter how I responded,

I could never erase us

I closed my eyes at the thought

And while darkness was the only thing that

Lingered between us,

It washed over me that 

It was the only thing that ever would

Nothing "more" was ever meant to become of us

I knew that I will forgive you one day,

But I also knew I could never forget

And as I said goodbye to you in the moonlight

My vision had gotten foggy

And soon, a big tear splatted on the ground

But it was a good tear,

A tear of remembrance,

Not a tear of loss