Your Left Shoulder is Burned into the Corner of My TV Screen

When you told me you were tired of sitting in the same chairs every day

I agreed, so we switched chairs.

When you told me you were busy and stressed

I agreed, so I let you stop caring about me.

When you told me you didn’t want me in your life anymore

You were lying, because you called me a week later.

When you told me you never felt like you could show emotion in front of your dad

It was the most you ever said to me.

And I wanted to cry and jump up and down and hold you,

But I thought it more appropriate to squeeze your hand.

When you told me you cared about me I asked you to prove it

And you didn’t.

When you told me you were trying

I believed you until the next time.

When you told me you were growing out your beard I started to panic,

because every hard conversation starts with a discussion of facial hair.

When you told me to give it some time, we were wallowing in the grayish glow

of a paused movie and everything smelled like red curry.

It was dark enough for me to be bold, and I told you

Fuck that I love you

and I don’t care that you don’t love me back.