Michelle

I almost told you the truth when

My eyes first beheld your ethereal glow

When my throat closed up, heart pounding

At the mere sight of you

I sat at a nearby desk

Wanting to be close to you

My first true vision of perfection

I almost told you the truth when you dropped your pen

I jumped to retrieve it… almost falling on my face

Your laugh was the melodious tones of a choir of angels

Our fingers lightly brushed…

And a jolt of pure fiery electricity

Shot through my body …

I almost told you the truth when you smiled

And said “Thank you”

But my tongue was tied in a Gordian knot

I could not unravel to save my life

I could but gaze into those emerald eyes

Wishing only to touch your face

Brush back the errant lock of hair

Falling across your pert, freckled nose

Every day you made my world better

Just the thought of seeing you

Would buoy my spirits to new heights of delirium

Still, I didn’t tell you the truth …

I almost told you the truth when we were paired up

For that Mathlete quiz Mr. Blenis put us on

When we raced to see who could solve the problems quicker

You were so bright, so smart…., so… perfect

I almost told you the truth…

But I was a shy sixteen year old boy

A bookworm living in a fantasy world

Still… your laugh, your smile, your eyes… your … everything

Were all I dreamed of every night…

But I didn’t tell you the truth…

Every day I tried…

Every day I failed….

Then we graduated ….

I went to college, as did you….

But not the same one

Four and a half decades have passed

And I still think of you

Wondering what might have been

Had I only told you the truth …

Michelle …