How Far?

Know you how far we've come?

It's been shy of a year
Since that fateful
Freshman December.

Know you how much we've grown?

I'd entered the realm
Of women for the first time,
And you'd entered the realm of Evil, Me.

I hope and assume
It was enlightening for us both.

Know you how much we've learned?

I can only give you
Half of the story-

I learned volumes
From simply a smile,
A hug,
And a face.

A smile the stopped hearts
When it made its appearance -

Taught me the simple truth
Of the heart behind.

It was happy to see me.

And until now,
I did not acknowledge this;
I was a cynic
And made myself miserable.

Thinking thoughts like,
"Such a smile
Only deepens my pain."
But what pain is there to feel?

A hug that ended
My life as I knew it.
On a December evening - Was it January? -
A wordless embrace killed me.

I was reborn
The embrace spoke novels.
The novels contained
"I love you"
In there somewhere.

Only to be followed by
"As a friend."

Even so - such is the purest love.

The love
Which has no hidden intention.
No sexual connotation,
No malicious intent.

True love is only with friends and family.
Pure, clean friendship -
An embrace that spoke of true love.

A face
That I was once blessed to see every day -
Now helps me to appreciate
This past year more
The days when I saw you every day

Until now,
I took that face for granted
Now that it's gone
I miss it and love the days I'd seen it
For the blessing of seeing that face.

A face that taught me
To value beauty
Before it disappears.

Do you realize how far I've come?

Tell me now, my love, my friend -
How far?
How far have you come?