There are things you can’t unhear.
For me, it’s the time someone tried to tell me
that they loved me.
He told me with a quivering voice
And it took everything I had
not to laugh. For we were so young-
not even 16.

And when I didn’t say it back,
he started to cry
and told  me that it wasn’t fair
for him to say that. And for me to be
silent.

So I swallowed my pride
and choked out the words

I
Love
You
Too.

With all the sincerity of a Chinatown diamond.