My Best Friend

As I stood there

Crying in the rain

I stopped and stared

At the sunset before me

My tears fell faster

As I remembered

The feel of his arms

Around me

And thought of how

Distant he’s been

I miss the days when

I could stand in my backyard

And just laugh with him

He would talk

I would listen

And I’d be so happy

Then he’d lean in

And press his lips to mine

Say he loves me

As though he couldn’t wait

A moment longer

To tell me

But alas

Those days are over

My heart still longs

For his touch

And he will always hold

A special place in it

And should he ever

Choose to claim it

He will find a home there

But for now we’re just friends

And as I stand and

Cry in the rain

I get a text from him

It’s our daily check-in

“How are you?”

“Eh”

I don’t elaborate

But he asks anyway

Knowing my “eh”

Could mean I need help

But simply won’t admit it

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I pause

Breathe deep

“Just missing you”

I tell him

He sends a heart emoji

And says he misses me too

Suddenly I feel a little less alone

I may not hold

That place in his heart

That’s for a romantic partner

But I know I still hold

That place in his heart

For his very best friend

“I love you”

He tells me

And I believe him

“I love you”

I say

And I know that he’ll take it

As the love of a friend

I’m okay with that

Because that’s what he needs

Right now

Not a lover

Besotted with him

Looking for

A long term relationship

But a best friend

Who will listen

And not push

Who will invite him out

With no expectations

Knowing that he has a hard time

Leaving the house

That’s what I will be

For as long as he needs me

Because he has shown me

That his kindness

Knows no bounds

So neither will mine