Love Poem: Bittersweet Kiss
Elena Bradford Avatar
Written by: Elena Bradford

Bittersweet Kiss

We flirted and got closer throughout the day.
Not wanting to get caught, I pray in vain.
Our plans were just a matter of waiting.
Out in the parking lot, I stood patient.
He arrived casual and smiling.

I had my hands shaking.
Behind the open van’s trunk.
I stood still, feeling stuck.
To kiss.
or not to kiss?

My mind raced with raging thoughts.
Two of my sides viciously fought.
One pleaded that I must.
The other was begging for me to listen to it for once.
It all happened in less than a second
I was going to faint, I reckon.
Watching him face me.
And before I knew what I was doing.
I kissed him.

It was far from perfect.
but it was okay.
I was the first to pull away.
A peck on my right cheek, there’s nothing I could say.
My arm around his neck, thinking of a phrase.
I was struggling to still breathe as I said his name.

The name echoed as a whisper, barely a breath.
Such a precious name carries depth.
I calmed as he seemed mindful of my state.
 Realizing our closeness, I stepped away.

I acted like I was unfazed as we separated for a moment.
“I love you,” he said, filling the silence with sentiment.
I flashed a winning smile at the statement.
“What?” I asked playfully, wanting him to go on.
He repeated his words, and I took a step closer.
I asked again, he responded the same, so I stepped again.
Standing inches apart, we are not just friends.

I went quiet as he drew out his one-hundredth “I love you” from his lips.
I couldn’t figure out how I formed the three words that dripped from my mouth.
I. Love. You.
My smile faded as I looked into his soul.
His eyes lost their childish mold.
Such awe and delight devoured me.
Then he asked to kiss, using the words of his eyes.

The moment vanished. 
I’m back to the present. 
That was all his game.
He was jealous of his friends, and I was easy to play.