i'm not.

i'm not.

i'm not lonely.

i'm not...

missing you -

or your quirkiness,

your prescence,

your words.

i'm not.

i swear.

and those aren't

t e a r s

that you see,

welling up in my eyes.

i'm not overjoyed

to see you -

i'm really not.

and i'm certainly

not shaking, so... afraid.

i'm not.

and those sniffles -

i'm not crying.

just... allergies?

because why would i cry

upon seeing you?

why would i,

being apart from you so long?

why would i?

it wouldn't be because i'm lonely.

no - it wouldn't.

i swear, i'm not lonely.

i'm not missing you, either.

really.

believe me.

i'm not... lonely.

and i don't -

i don't miss you.

i'm just... sad.

but not because you aren't here -

no, of course not!