You notice the twitch of the mouth.
Blinking back tears they don't, can't, ever, shed.
They need someone.
They need help.
You can't wait for permission from them.
Tell  someone before it's too late.
Before you go to someone else,
You throw one last desperate attempt.
You love them.

And then you wake up to find no one else there
But yourself.

You don't need permission to love yourself.
The tears drip freely.