My Expectations For You Were Set Way Too Low

I didn’t expect you to text me back two seconds after I messaged you with a hello. I just wanted you to text me back. An hour later. Two. Three. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to hear back from you.

I didn’t expect you to shower me with compliments. I just wanted you to stop sending mixed signals. To be honest and authentic. To tell me how nice I looked and how much you liked me, so I wouldn’t have to guess what was running through your head.

I didn’t expect you to change your relationship status and tell all of your friends about us. I just wanted you to hold my hand outside of the house. I wanted you to take me out on dates instead of hiding me in your bedroom. I wanted you to be unafraid of being seen with me.

I didn’t expect you to turn into a total romantic. I just wanted proof that you liked me for more than my body. I wanted to know that you weren’t just using me for sex. I wanted to know that your feelings for me equaled my feelings for you.

I didn’t expect you to take me out to some fancy restaurant and pay for the entire meal. I just wanted you to follow through and show up when you said you were going to show up. I didn’t want you to cancel plans again. I wanted you to spend some actual time with me.

I didn’t expect you to buy me flowers and chocolates for my birthday. I just wanted you to remember the date. I wanted you to send me a text or leave me a voicemail to prove that you’ve been paying attention, that you actually care.

I didn’t expect you to spill all of your secrets into my ears. I just wanted you to tell me a bit more about who you were, what your childhood looked like, what you wanted your future to look like. I wanted you to feel comfortable enough with me to expose the real you.

I didn’t expect you to change your entire lifestyle in order to please me. I just wanted you to text me without being blackout drunk. I wanted you to stop living a bachelor’s life. I wanted you to show me that you were willing to make an effort to change.

I didn’t expect you to spend every single day alongside me. I just wanted you to tell me that you missed me when I wasn’t around and to try to rearrange your schedule just a little so you could see me more.

I didn’t expect you to get down on one knee to commit to me for life. I just wanted you to stay loyal to me. To decide that you wanted to be with me and only me.

I didn’t expect you to move mountains to be with me. I just wanted you to try. 

Holly Riordan is the author of Lifeless Souls, available here.