thank you

that’s really all i have to say

thank you

like

thank you for all the times you waved to me

or told me good morning

or just nodded your head

thank you for all the nicknames you gave me

the ones i cherish more than my real name

thank you for remembering my name

even though we only met yesterday

and even though i jump at its sound

because it no longer seems to fit me

thank you for not waving to me

when we were walking on opposite sides of the street

i know it’s because you didn’t notice me

but that’s ok

because as soon as i saw you

i didn’t know what to do with my arms

so thank you for not noticing

also, thank you for not noticing

all the times i cried when you were around

not because of anything you did

but thanks for not noticing

thank you for singing to me

every time you did

from that time you embarrassed me in math class

with your version of an off-key ‘Firework’

to the time you sang at the top of your lungs

‘i think i want to marry you’

on the Scrambler at the fair

thank you for that one ride

where we were separated by a giant ‘Brutus the Buckeye’

i don’t know how you arranged it

but you made me laugh so hard

i forgot to be scared

thank you for walking with me

in the halls on the way to class

and also on the weekends

i never told you this

but that one time we walked home together

meant the world to me

and as soon as we split up,

even though we didn’t have to,

i cried the rest of the walk home

and i hate to admit it

but i ran half a block

hoping that i might catch up enough to see you

still walking

i never did

but i just wanted to say thank you

thank you for never calling me beautiful

because that one time you did

seemed so much sweeter

thank you for loving me

even when i wasn’t wearing makeup

thank you for sitting next to me in class

because sometimes i’m all alone

thank you for joining me at lunch

when someone takes my spot

thank you for talking

when i felt like i had nothing to say

and thank you for listening

when my mouth finally became louder

than all the voices in my head

thank you for never trying to hold my hand

or anything like that

i don’t know

if i could have asked for anything more

thank you for always leaning your head back on my desk

and scooting back even further

when i hit you with my binder

thank you for that picture you drew

it’s still hanging in my locker

thank you for eating all my friend’s food with me

thank you for sharing something you really care about

even when i don’t get it

thank you for trying to keep me focused

when it really counts

thank you for making me laugh

and thank you for embarrassing me

thank you for believing in me

even when i couldn’t

thank you for accepting me

when i had trouble making friends

and for letting me go

when i found someone else

thank you for never really talking

and making it awkward when we do

thank you for teasing me back

thank you for punching me

after i’ve hit you a million times

thank you for believing i’m strong

thank you for trying to talk to me

even while i’m reading a book

thank you for sharing a movie

on your birthday

with my friend watching over our shoulders

asking for the captions

thank you for being the bigger person

and opening the door for me

thank you for letting me hold my own door

thank you for all the thanks you’ve given me

especially those i don’t deserve

thank you for the jars of smiles

i’ve collected from you over the years

thank you for ignoring me

there’s never been much i wanted to say to you

thanks for not making me try to find the right words

thank you for letting me crush on you

i know you knew

thanks for not embarrassing me

and thanks for all those days

and all the things you said to me that let me believe

that maybe you liked me back

thank you for never texting me

and thank you for finding my number

through my friend’s instagram

to call me and apologize for no reason

thank you for all the late night conversations

thank you for never asking about my writing

or asking me to write about you

thank you for not noticing when you made me so nervous

i knocked my water off the table

thanks for never scaring me

i scare so easily

thanks for never calling me crazy

after i fall on the floor because i thought i saw a shadow move

thank you for getting me paper towels

when my friend spilled her coffee on me

and getting even more

when my friend stole those paper towels

thank you for not getting freaked out

when my other friend screamed because

“he’s getting you paper towels!”

thank you for not judging me

and accepting me when i show up

at every baseball game

thank you for letting me join the team

thank you for feeling so comfortable around me

that i actually wish you wouldn’t

thank you for never writing me that song you promised

i wouldn’t have known what to say

thank you for never remembering my birthday

and a double thank you

for never bringing me gifts

or throwing me a party

thank you for giving me so many things to be thankful for

thank you