Three Words Too Soon

I turn my face towards yours
And count the colours in your eyes
And the freckles on your skin.
I trace the outline of your lips
Inhaling the scent of the shampoo you “borrowed”
And the words bubble from my chest
But catch in my throat.
Three words.
Three words I never dreamed I would say.
Three words I so long to hear.

But of course it is too soon.

So every time you catch me off guard
With the warmth of your embrace
Or the sound of your laughter
And I feel the urge to tell you
I force the three words back
And I lock them away.

I tell myself that perhaps one day
When I am busy counting the colours in your eyes
You will turn to me and say
The three words I long to hear.
And I will never have to hide
My feelings for you again.