Something is better than nothing

just friends

we say—

but just friends

don’t look

at each other

like that.

there's something

in the silence

between our laughter,

in the way

your hand

almost touches mine

but doesn’t.

we both know

we can’t be lovers,

not in this life,

maybe not

in any life—

so we settle

for the ache

of almost,

the beauty

of a maybe

never said out loud.

and if

just friends

is all

we can ever be,

then I will be

your friend

with a smile

that hides

a thousand

unspoken I love you’s.

because something

of you

is still

so much more

than nothing

at all.