I had a sudden impulse to tell him,

"You look like the nerdy half of Peter Parker."

As if that would come across as a compliment.

I didn't even know his name.

Would I speak to a stranger?

Simply so I could feel the pulse of

Inky tendrils stinging and staining

My lungs that still breathe through scar tissue.

I have the sudden impulse to tell people,

"You look beautiful today."

That would come across as a compliment.

I usually don't know these people.

Would I compliment a stranger?

Simply so I could increase the adrenaline

Flowing through my damaged brain

Suffocating my independent will.

I had the sudden impulse to tell him,

"I love you."

What would that come across as?

But what if he's a stranger?

Simply to dissuade me from believing

This boy knows every inch of my

Damaged brain and scar tissue lungs.

But

"I love you" anyway.