Here's what "I love you" sounds like to me.

The other day I saw a writing prompt that intrigued me, it was "What do the words 'I love you' feel like in your mouth?" I had to think about what how I would respond to it for a while, until finally I started writing, and this piece developed.

I love you sounds like This:

When I say, “I love you.”

It feels different toward every person-

Sometimes the words stick

To the roof of my mouth.

Sometimes they pour out unhindered,

Sometimes they feel heavy on my tongue,

Sometimes they bubble up like laughter.

Sometimes they don’t come out in words,

Sometimes I don’t use my voice.

For me, “I love you” may come in the form of

A cup of coffee- one for you, and one for me.

It may sound like me saying,

“Are you okay?”

Or “I’m here.”

It may look like me

showing up at your door

Because I could tell

By the sound of your voice,

On the other end of the phone

That “I’m fine,” meant “I’m drowning.”

So I’ll show up to throw you a lifeline.

“I love you” might look like listening,

Because I know sometimes

We just need to be heard.

Other times “I love you”

looks like distance

Because the space between us

Keeps me capable

Of loving you

without injuring me.

“I love you” aren’t always safe words

Sometimes it aches to say them-

Sometimes it feels so damn risky.

But I’ll try to find ways

To say it a little louder

If I can.

My favorite “I love you”

Is one I can’t let myself give often

And one I don’t want to give

To just anyone.

It’s the most risky to me

It feels so dangerous,

It’s scary,

But my heart begs to give it-

Because my favorite “I love you”

Is a long hug.

Is my head resting on your shoulder.

Is my hand in yours.

It’s me leaning on you a little.

It’s closing the the distance between us-

Even in the smallest,

Seemingly insignificant

Ways.

And your arms around me,

You leaning into me

When I lean into you,

Your grip on my hand,

You holding me a little longer

Than I expected,

As I’m quietly, anxiously, cautiously

Saying, “I love you” in way that make me

Feel fragile and over exposed

Causes all the tension I've been holding to

Quiet down inside me.

As you relax into those moments,

I relax into those moments,

When it doesn’t feel forced

When it seems so natural to you-

And it helps me hear,

“I love you too.”