Words.

Words can hurt.

I don't need you to...

Those were his words, but what my heart heard was I don't need YOU...

I caught the younger boy's eye across the room and thought I saw a flicker of understanding. 

That he knew what I was feeling. 

I was wrong.  

I came to understand later that he didn't need me either.

Why do I always forget to be quiet?  Why can I not make the endless, blathering-ness of me stop?

Why can't I shove the hurt someplace so deep that it disappears?

Enough.

Enough of this pity-party.

I will learn.  Learn to watch MY words.

So I don't hurt another.