Three Words and Four Words

So alike. So different.

Wild strawberry , alone amongst the evergreen ground cover (photo by author)

We want to hear those Three Words
because they validate and
assure and
give us hope
but
speaking them
putting them out there
opening our heart to pain
because we get
that look
(sadness with regret)
that tone
(patience with irritation)
that phrase
(I like you as a friend, but)

Those Three Words
frighten us when we speak them first

But
those Four Words
delight us when heard
delight us to speak
to say
to assure
that it’s all going to be okay now
that it’s all that we’d hoped for
that it’s all getting better from here

“I love you”

“I love you too”