I met you 3 weeks ago.
Before I met you, I had given up hope. I was becoming accustomed to being disappointed or unimpressed. I was so used to feeling so stressed. Before you, I made plans with my friends of living a single life well into our thirties. Before you, I was more careless and so flirty. Before you, I had forgotten that I wanted to be loved and secure. Before you, I didn’t know how it felt to want to be yours.

But then I met you.
At first, I thought that was good but let me not get too excited. I had learned not to plan a future off of how one night ends. But you replied to my texts like you wanted to see us grow. You had hopped over my walls and my feelings began to show. Day by day I remembered how I used to love someone. I remembered how it felt to have someone care about where I am or who I’m with. I remembered that butterflies could still exist in my stomach. I remembered that I am not a dog like everyone told me. I’m a man and I feel things too.

When I met you,
I got attached faster than I had scheduled. I didn’t want to open the doors to my heart until month 3 but my heart was fully open by day 14. You had given me a glimpse of what stability felt like and I was addicted. You showed me a preview of what morning kisses and home cooked dinners was like and I was all for it. You seduced me not with your lips and thighs but with deep talks and heartfelt goodbyes. I felt connected to you. For 20 days, it became hard for me to imagine life without you. I wanted you be in my plans now. I’d tell my friends “Nah Ima chill with my girl tonight.” You’ve made me a good man now!

I met you 3 weeks ago,
And I felt like you changed my life. You made me want to be yours. But then all of a sudden, you wouldn’t reply. I figured you were busy. Your visits came less frequently so I assumed work had tired you out. My experience told me the end was near but my heart said “just wait for her”. I saw you post a picture with “the guy who wouldn’t stop bothering you” and my whole face became warm with anger. I wanted to commit to you but I was only fun for you. But I quickly wipe my tears cause I’m a man and I keep it playa. No one will console me because it was only 3 weeks and “at least you hit.” So I move on more hurt than I began because I never get to express my pain. I’ll never tweet what happened and I’ve already texted you twice so I can’t afford to send another one. I must go on knowing I miss a woman the world didn’t know I even cared for. All this sadness. All this confusion. All this pain.

I met you 3 weeks ago.

                                                @Cody_swank

I met you 3 weeks ago
Before I met you, I lost hope. I had become accustomed to boys pretending to be men. I was so used to this hit and run trend. Before you, I was sure that I’d be the next lay and not get a text back the very next day. Before you, I was reserved from what I felt. A guy like you isn’t the card I was expecting to be dealt. Before you, I didn’t know how it felt to be wanted back.

But then I met you.
At first I was like “oh just another fuckboy”, let me not get too excited. I learned to never let things go past the one night stand. But you texted me first like you wanted to get to know me. You even talked about us going past date number three. I didn’t know what to believe. Our talks became personal. I started to let you in but I always kept you at a distance; surely this would end. I was warned you were a player and I wanted to know your game. So hand me the controller, call me player two.

When I met you
I kept comparing you to him. Your smile to his smile. Your laugh to his laugh. In the back of my mind I knew that I didn’t want you for longer than level one. You finally had a player who knew how to play your game. It intrigued you. I intrigued you but you didn’t know I was texting him too. He found out that the light in the crack separating my thighs went dark because of you. Before you, for two years, it was him. Because of you, he confessed we weren’t just friends.

I met you 3 weeks ago.
I didn’t mean to hurt you. I made a mistake dragging you into this mess. I have to stop replying, I’m trying to avoid this stress. You’ve texted once or twice now “how have you been?” I can’t reply saying “I’ve been with him.” I can’t face the truth so I avoid it all together. I know you’ve seen our pictures, caption, “You’re my forever”. Our time was just like the moment, fleeting and quick. But you’re a player. At least you got your hit. Did you expect this thing between us to actually grow?

I only met you 3 weeks ago.

                                               Taylor Thigpen
                                                @taythigpen