What did you think I meant when I told you I loved you? Did you think I was asking a question that needed a reply? Did you think that I was making a promise to you?

Why does saying “I love you” have to mean anything more than an expression of a feeling deep inside?

If I say I love you, I do not expect this means you will love me back. If I say I love you, I am not promising you that I will never fail you. I am not telling you that I want anything in return. I am not even asking for your acceptance of that love.

Love comes in so many forms. A parent loves a child and a child loves a parent—this is a feeling of unconditional acceptance—a ‘required’ love, but it is often stronger than any other love one can ever witness.

Love can be an emotion.

Love can be an act.

One can be in love, feel love, show love, make love. But in the end, it’s just a word—a word that holds little meaning when said too often or too little. A word and nothing more, because it’s the actions that make the emotion real, and the emotion that you feel—not the words that are spoken.

So when I tell you that I love you, please don’t feel you must reply. When you hear me say those words, try to keep the fear from showing in your eyes… I don’t want you to say it back, unless it’s how you feel.

I don’t want you to thank me for loving you. For I’m not asking you to love me. It’s not a promise that you must keep—it comes with no obligations—you don’t have to do anything.

It’s just some words I say to you, expressing how I feel. It’s not the words that really mean anything. It’s the actions that will show the love is real.

So, let me say ‘I love you,’ because I say these words for me… and maybe some day you will understand how special the feelings behind those words can be.

You see, I don’t love you for you. I love you for me.

Michy