I never say the big words.

They sit at the edge of my tongue,

But I let them fall back down

Like shy raindrops

Scared of touching the ground.

So instead,

I notice small things.

The way your eyes soften

When you talk about simple dreams.

The way your voice changes

When you are tired

But still trying to be strong.

When you walk into a room,

It doesn't become brighter

It becomes calmer.

And I don't know how to explain

How rare that is.

Some days I tell myself,

"Don't feel too much."

Because feelings are risky.

Because people leave.

Because everyone is replaceable

Like old songs in a playlist

Slowly getting skipped

When new favorites arrive.

Maybe one day

I will be that song too.

Still there…

But not played anymore.

Not because it was bad,

Just because something else

Came along.

And I will understand.

I always understand.

But right now…

When you laugh at something small

And look at me

Like I belong in that moment,

My heart does this quiet thing

Like it is building a home

Without telling anyone.

I don't want to cage this feeling

By naming it.

Big words make things fragile.

And I would rather keep this

Soft.

Breathing.

Alive.

If someday I become

Just another chapter

You once flipped through,

I hope I was at least

A peaceful one.

A page that felt warm

On a lonely night.

I won't say the words.

Maybe I never will.

But if you ever notice

That I never skip your name

In the playlist of my days

That I replay your smile

More than I should

That is where everything

I cannot say

Quietly lives.