if i die before i say “i love you”
i made sure you’ll find out
i told everyone else,
everyone who would listen,
to make sure

its not time yet
i’m not brave yet
to tell you myself
but the chance that you would never know
is too risky to bear

so i told the baker
and I told my therapist
and my roommate
and my sister
my cousin and their cat

you’re in my thoughts
in my life
in my bones
i feel the truth of you
everywhere

so if i die before i say “i love you”
they will tell you
everyone will
that I was deeply
hopelessly
irrevocably
in love with only you,

– by stella