I love you,

the coffee purrs as he pushes it to her,

and won't you listen

even though I know you can't

is held within the steam blowing out.

'Thank you,' Her smile's radiant,

and Nino lets that relief pour through him

not unlike how the coffee was poured into that very cup.


"Can, Can I draw you, Mari? I promise that it won't take long and that it really won't hurt me if you say, no."

Her gentle and shy smile

makes his heart race

"Sure, I just have to finish up something here first."

"O-O-Okay," And he doubts

that she notices the I love you

in the folds of each pencil mark,

because he didn't write it,

just drew her with all of his heart,

"It's beautiful, Nath."

He'll smile like the sun met the stars

while her eyes trace the familiar lines of the page.


He feels a part of his heart

both sink and swim

as she compliments his work

She doesn't see the I love you,

carefully tucked within each hour of hard work,

she can't really,

and he doesn't expect her to,

not anymore

He watches when she leaves though,

all grace and confidence,

and remembers the news on the day of Stoneheart,

and smiles because

he sees how much she's grown even

while not being a part of her life,

only barely crossing moments and strands now.