i care about you

     I watch all the time, everything that happens. I watch her walk in and out of your life as if you were only one part of her reality. The sad part is - you don't care; you always welcome her back with open arms. No matter how badly she treats you, you always take her back, and in the end she always leaves. 

     You get upset and quiet, and then you disappear for awhile. Eventually you come back to me, and I always welcome you with open arms, but not in the same way you welcome her.

     I try to keep my distance when she's here, because it burns me up to see you with her, and because I know you know. You know.

     "Hey," you say as you walk through the front door.

     "Hey, what's up," I try to hide my smile, but it's useless - seeing you always makes me smile.

     "Is your sister home," you ask and my smile fades.

     "Yeah, she's in her room," I say, holding my breath, "do you want a drink before you go face the dragon," I hope the answer is yes.

     "Sure, I'll take some water." I put my laundry down and get you the water. "Your sister isn't that bad."

     "She's leaving again, did you know?"

     "No, where to this time?"

     "Out West, she says she needs some adventure in her life. Not just the same old, same old she gets here," your eyes fall as soon as the words leave my mouth and I'm instantly sorry. "She probably won't last long."

     "Well," you sigh, "she hasn't got much to keep her here."

     "Hey, you know that's not true," I pause, "she cares about you." You smile and walk down the hallway. She was gone the next day.

     Things are different when she isn't here. You come over more often, and things aren't so awkward between us. Things are so much easier when she isn't here. I'm not always reassuring you, and you're not always asking for it.

     When she's gone I don't resent either of you. It's so easy for me not to like her when she's here, because I know she's going to hurt you; but at the same time I resent you for giving me those feelings. If you would stop taking her back I wouldn't need to dislike her on your behalf.

     I like you the most when she's gone because you need me in a different way. Suddenly I'm a friend, not just your girlfriend's sister. My time is no longer spent comforting you.

     "Hey," you say as you walk through the front door.

     "What's up," I say, smiling full-on.

     "What'd you think of that Statistics test?" We fall into comfortable conversation, but we both know you aren't here to talk about school. "Has she called?"

     "Yeah, she's coming home next week," and just like that we're back to that place where I'm not your friend, just your girlfriend's sister, but I'm not ready to go there yet. "Why?"

     "Why what?"

     "Why do you stay wither her," you look at your shoes.

     "She's the one," you whisper to the floor.

     "How," I feel angry now, "how can it be her? She doesn't care about you, she never has!"

     "But I care about her."

     "All she does is hurt you, over and over, why?"

     "Why what?"

     "Why her," 'why not me' is what I'm really asking, and I know you know.

     "I can't-" you stop talking.

     "You can't what? Face the truth?"

     "I can't do this," and you leave.

  

     Every time it ends like this. I yell and beg and cry, but all you do is hurt me. I tell you the truth and give you my heart and ask you hard questions, but all you do is leave. I should be asking myself those questions, 'why you?' I don't. I don't because I already know the answer.

I care about you.