Four Letter Word (Patreon)

I have a bunch of friends who I love. Friends THAT I love? Friends for whom I feel love? I have some friends and I love them. 

There's the ones who know I love them because I tell them so, we say it to each other when we hug and when we joke, we say it without any reservation. It's effortless to share.

There's the ones I love every day but I only tell them when the occasion really calls for it, you know? It has weight. I don't love them any less than the other group of friends, it's just... it's not something we bust out casually. But if one of us is hurting, the other is there and ready to say it and you know it's real because that's not a thing we just volunteer thoughtlessly. 

There's the ones I love just as freaking much as the first two sets but we will never say those words to each other. We show each other through the way we interact, we say it with our eyes and through the actions we do for each other. But to actually say it aloud? It would be awkward and embarrassing. I mean, it would be true. We both know in our hearts that it's the truth, that we love each other. But... some things you just don't say with words, ok?  

And there's the new ones where it's still way too early to say that, to think that, to feel that. The friendships that are being built right now where we've shared some of the vulnerable, less-appealing stuff with each other but we're still mostly putting our best foot forward because we don't want to scare the other away yet. But. I can see it. I can tell we're going to love each other in time. Ooh, just you wait, friend-in-development. We're gunna love the heck outta each other.

I mean, mind you, I don't love ALL my friends. I like them! I like them all a whole heckuva lot!!!! Otherwise we wouldn't be friends! 

Those friends who I do love, though? Man. I love them so much, regardless of how we express it. 

Also here is another drawing from Inktober: