Innocently

Emily Burns

I love you.

How can three little words change everything?

I was just a girl, sitting in math class, twirling my pencil around my hair, the way I do when I'm bored. I was just sitting there, innocently.

You were just a boy, sitting across the room. Biting his pencil, thinking hard about the question at hand. Innocently.

How is it that three little words can change everything?

I was just a girl, dressed in her mother's favourite high heels, rocking out at the school dance to teenybopper music. Innocently.

You were just a boy, standing in the corner, being a wallflower and enjoying it. (Who enjoys that?) Just watching. Innocently.

How is it that three little words can change everything?

I was just a girl, sitting in front of a screen at her computer when an instant message popped up reading "Who is this?" Innocently.

You were just a boy, sitting in front of a screen at his computer when he saw a name on his list that he didn't recognize. Clicking on it and writing "Who is this?" Innocently.

How is it that three little words can change everything?

I was just a girl, talking to her best guy friend, whom she'd started talking to over the internet over two years before and had become inseperable to. Standing. Innocently.

You were just a boy, standing, talking to your best friend, whom you'd started talking to over the internet - by mistake!- two years before and had adored ever since. Innocently, of course.

How is it that three little words can change everything?

I was just a girl, sitting in her basement, crying over another faceless boyfriend to her best friend in the entire world. Innocently.

You were just a boy, sitting, comforting your best friend over another lost, empty relationship. Innocently.

How is it that three little words can change everything?

I was just a girl, with no particular good qualities. Innocent. Until he kissed me.

You were just a boy, with no oustanding abilities to do anything. Until you kissed me.

How is it that three little words...don't even have to be said?

I was just a girl, in love.

You were just a boy, in love.

Innocently.

How is it that two little words can strengthen a stone bond forever?

I was just a girl.

You were just a boy.

"I do."