Luna Echoes

He said it all the time. I love you. Over and over. As if the more he said it, the more it would mean. At first, it felt real. It felt safe. But slowly, it started to sound empty.

And that’s when the questions began to grow louder: if love is only said but not shown, is it still love at all?

There were days he was there, but not really. He’s there, but his mind is elsewhere. And there are times when he doesn’t show up at all. In those moments, the words don’t matter. They just sit there, floating, while the emptiness grows.

Then come the apologies. The same ones every time. He says it’s his fault, that he’s not enough, that he doesn’t know how to be better. But that’s just it—why stop there? Why settle in the thought that things can’t change? If you know you’re falling short, why not try harder? Why not at least take one step more?

Because love isn’t proven in how often it’s said. Love shows up in the quiet ways, in the little efforts that make someone feel chosen. It’s not grand gestures or dramatic promises. It’s the small, steady things. Listening. Showing up. Remembering. Choosing to be there, even on the difficult days.

Words alone can’t hold someone. At first, they’re enough to believe in. But if nothing follows them, they lose their weight. They turn empty, and no matter how many times they’re repeated, they don’t feel the same anymore.

The truth is, the heart doesn’t count how many times I love you was said. It only remembers the times it was felt. And if those moments are missing, then what’s left? Only words. Only air.