How to look someone in the eye and pretend you don't love them:
Forget that their eyes are the softest blue and
forget that their hands are warm and welcoming
It
  does
              not
                      matter
that they have two moles on their right elbow
or that the veins in their hands are captivating

Remind yourself that the way they lay their head
on your shoulder is no longer important
Convince yourself their leg against yours
made you feel nothing
and they felt nothing too
you were an annoying bug
facing lilies and cats
better off smacked to the curb

Their voice doesn't calm your anxiety
their words don't give you protection
Their hugs didn't feel safe
their presence didn't feel like coming home

Remember that your heart is
a haunted house, not a home
for people with bright laughs and strong arms
Forget about being thrown into the pool
and the taste of chlorine
Forget about carpet ball tables
and warm summer sun
Forget about baseball gloves
and picnic tables and guitar strings

Tell yourself your face didn't light up
when he said you looked good
tell yourself your heart didn't fall
when he wasn't waiting for you
It doesn't matter if he let you steal his hat
or his sandals
He was always just a distraction

Right?