I’m not sure you knew back then
just how much I liked you.
I mean, sure, we got along fine
with all my coincidental visits to the lab
when you so happened to be on duty
and all the evenings you happened to want to borrow some book of mine and ended up at my dorm for the rest of the night
but I don’t think you got
just how much I invested in you during those too short months, too many years ago.

I thought you were the bees’ knees
but I never said anything of the kind.
I treated you like a college kid
– like a college kid treats
another college kid.
I should’ve been kinder
I should’ve been honest.
I should’ve told you how I felt.
I should’ve remembered your full name.