An Open Letter to Those Whose Eyes Linger a Little Too Long

I get it..

He’s hot

I have a different hairstyle than you’re used to

He has a longer beard than you expected

We were laughing really loudly when we walked into the store…

I have “one of those faces” and you think you know me from somewhere

His shirt has an OU logo and you just graduated from there…

My shoes are cute

His shoes are cute

There are ten million reasons you were staring.

And, how did I even catch you staring?

I must’ve been staring, too, right?

I’m being sensitive

I’m being vain.

I’m being paranoid.

I get it.

But the reality is that I’m in love

And relationships already come with a whirlwind of emotions that

I didn’t expect

Or I wasn’t used to

So when we decide to run to the store

For the third time this week

To pick up some sushi

And all of you, in every aisle, behind every counter

are staring…

It’s hard to blame it on my braids, or his beard.

It’s hard to throw out, another, benefit of the doubt.

Especially if your eyes are saying “no.”

And your frown is disapproving.

Your lack of expression is even more of a depression.

I’m not in this to be a spectacle.

I don’t love him because of the attention.

I didn’t have a choice, to be frank.

My soul and his soul collided.

And I know collisions are loud, and big, and hard to ignore.

I know they’re beautiful.

I know we’re beautiful…

…but try not to stare?

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