Over the years, Valentine’s Day has become the symbol of textbook romance: the big romantic gestures, satin hearts, red roses and candle-lit dinners. No matter how much I dislike this overrated celebration, there are few good things that come out of it: opportunity, finality and closure.

Valentine’s Day provides the most condusive situation to “go for it”. It’s human nature to fear rejection, and obviously, the only way to avoid rejection is by stalling. When you like someone, you build-up this fantasy world in some grand castle on Cloud-9, where everything is perfect and everyone is happy. We interpret every situation with that person as some sort of sign or step closer to achieving that distorted reality. But the fact is, that world doesn’t exist and the only way to get something close to it (by that I mean a healthy/happy relationship) is to admit your emotions; instead of living in a fantasy and avoiding confrontation. So for if you’re confident that you like someone and enjoy being with them, stop putting it off in hopes for some unachievable fantasy and go for the best option right here and now. So here’s a poem I wrote last night about stalling…

Half a Valentine

That sunny Tuesday afternoon,

She walks towards you between classes.

Behind her back, a soft white bear,

Her hair tied in pigtails, her mesmerized blue eyes behind soda-thick glasses.

 

That windy Thursday evening,

She approaches you at the mall.

In her palms, a small note with her email,

Her short blond hair, her pink tennis dress with a white coverall.

 

That buzzing Friday night,

She throws herself at you in the club,

With inviting words on her lips.

Her loose blond hair, her little black dress rising towards her hips.

 

But, she stops. She turns. She forgets her words.

Because you can’t be her Valentine, not once, not ever.

A Valentine lasts only a day,

But you are hers forever.

-t.t

Happy Valentine’s Day!