50 ways to say “I love you”

(without saying it, because we’re queer and scared)

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

1. Let me help you move that mattress.

2. You hungry?

3. I saved the voice memo you sent me at 2:13 a.m. where you said “ugh.”

4. Do you want my hoodie?

5. I’d love to shop for drywall with you at Home Depot.

6. I didn’t make a joke when you said you didn’t want to hang because you were “in a fight” with your cat.

7. I made you a playlist. It’s mostly sad girl indie and one Mitski song that’s basically a knife.

8. I unfollowed your ex on all platforms.

9. You can crash here. No pressure.

10. I learned your coffee order. And your tea order. And your In-and-Out order.

11. I Googled “do lesbians get cold feet” but I meant it emotionally.

12. I brought snacks for your anxiety.

13. I read that book you told me to just to understand your trauma.

14. You looked hot in that blurry photo. I screenshotted it anyway.

15. I respond to all of your memes with “It us.”

16. I brought you a rock I found that looks like a boob.