Almost A Thing

I thought the timing meant something

I thought your tone gave it away

Built a spark out of a passing glance

Hung on every word you didn't say

I filled the space with questions

You filled it with delay

And I called that patience

When I should've walked away

I let a maybe turn to hope

Then watched it disappear

You were never leading me on

But I still followed you here

It was almost a thing

But mostly in my head

A scene I wrote from silence

A look I misread

You were just being kind

I was writing a song

You were standing still

But I kept moving on

You didn't leave me

There was nothing to miss

It was almost a thing

But it wasn't ever this

I traced a story in your pauses

Painted warmth in every grin

You were just being human

But I thought I saw you let me in

I made meaning out of rhythm

Found signs in the routine

But sometimes it's just comfort

Not something in between

You didn't owe me feeling

You didn't play a part

But I still made a moment

Out of a one-sided start

It was almost a thing

But mostly pretend

A house of cards built

On what I thought you meant

You weren't even trying

And I was all in

You didn't pull away

I just thought we'd begin

You didn't ghost me

I just filled in the script

It was almost a thing

But none of it ever clicked

I guess I wanted something

So bad I made it true

You were just passing through

I stayed and called it you

It was almost a thing

But mostly projection

A quiet echo

Of my own reflection

You didn't love me