Sometimes, you say things playfully that stay with me longer than you probably intended. I know they're jokes, and I know the intention behind them is never to hurt me. More often than not, it's my own mind that struggles to separate the joke from the feeling. I've realised that when something bothers me, my first instinct is to keep it to myself. Not because I don't trust you, but because I'm always afraid that bringing it up might change the bond we have - and that's the last thing I'd ever want. I'm still learning how to express those feelings instead of quietly carrying them. If I ever seem quieter than usual, it probably isn't because of something you did wrong. I'm just trying to figure out the right words. This isn't something I expect you to fix. I just wanted you to know this part of me too.