Just This Once

There’s someone you care about.

The relationship isn't particularly difficult.
Just… slightly uneven.

Nothing dramatic happens.

No argument.

Occasionally, something lands wrong.

A comment.
A tone.
A moment.

What do you usually do?

Let it go just this once
Smooth it over
Tell yourself it wasn’t meant that way
Decide it’s not worth raising

That feels generous.

You tell yourself it’s better to keep things easy.

No need to make it awkward.

Time passes.

Nothing explodes.
Nothing improves.

You notice you’re choosing your words more carefully now.

Not because you’re afraid.
Just considerate.

You tell yourself:

This is just how they are
It’s not that serious
I don’t want to change the dynamic
I’ll bring it up if it happens again

It happens again.

And again.

At some point, you realise something has shifted.

You’re not deciding whether to say something.

You’re deciding whether it’s worth disturbing what exists.

The effort feels higher now.

You think about how it would sound
if you raise it now.

Oversensitive.
Out of the blue.

Late.

The question has changed.

It is no longer:
Should I say something?

It is now:
Is this just how it is?

There was still time.

You used it to keep things smooth.