Written Saturday October 10th during Andrea Gibson’s workshop called Write Your Heart In. 










This was a poetry prompt asking us to choose something we knew very well. We were prompted to take that thing we know well and make it into an insider’s guide.










 Here is my Insider’s Guide on Loving Someone that Doesn’t Love You, a poem about the once had, never had, or as Drake said [people] that we almost had– those lovers of the past and the insider’s guide on how to avoid, get over, or just survive the process of losing them. 










First of all, Never and I say never keep up with what they’re doing or who they’re with




















You will break the shreds of a heart that remain in your dreadfully sad body





No, instead hold on to whatever is left 










Yes, exist on the once in a while










Because there WILL BE once in a while 










Where she will show you that you could exist in her mind again










That small bit of maybe left in the sea of no’s he has given you





That is what you will live on





That is what will keep tears away for today










All you can focus on is today










It isn't keeping your hands busy that will be hard
But your mind
Keep a list of all the things you can think of instead on your fridge 
Your job
Your goals
His eyes
FUCK 





The problem with the mind is that it always wanders where it wants to

Never let it wander freely  





Go for a run, listen to that new album





Only listen to songs that don’t mention love





Do any songs not mention love? 
Try to find songs about anything else besides love





Throw your phone in the river instead





Start over





New hobby





This one taking your brain away from her





For one minute longer than the last 





That is the best you can do 





For you know it will always land back on her 





On him 





On them 





On whoever it is you pine for 





That is where your brain wants to be 





So don’t let it go there 





Never let your brain stay on thoughts of them





Keep your brain on textbooks





On work 





On sports 





On all the things you should be thinking of 





But couldn’t care less about 





In the late hours of the evening 





When you should be settling down ready for bed





That is when you will need to come here





 





That is when you will need to come back to this guide 
That is when you will need to focus on everything but





The way she used to look at you when you tripped over your own two feet





The way they touched your hand when you said you would drive





The way he laughed when you talked passionately about having an ice maker in your home 





Distract and move on, my dear sisters,





My brothers, and forsaken unrequited lovers





Distract because those lovers are those that once were 





Don’t let yourself love someone that doesn’t love you





You must move on to the now





Never live on the moments that someone shows you who they could be 





Live live live for now 





Never get stuck in what could be, but live for what actually is