The 'L' Word.

How many times have we heard it? "I Love You." How many times did we actually feel loved? Really?
I don't hate love and I'm not a cynic. I believe in love, but not that false love that weakens the actual word and meaning.
That word, diluted down to "love-flavored juice," slips too easily from our lips now. We use it an excuse, a shield, a distraction and we abuse it so much that when you hear it you automatically think, "yeah, right."
What happened to it? The word I mean. When did we start abusing that word? When did we start to believe that using it was a sign of weakness or for opportunity purposes only? When did the 'L' word become the doppleganger for destruction?

We only get so many real "I Love You-s" in this life, why waste them on games and deception?

Something is truly wrong when someone tells you they love you and you don't reciprocate, but instead, go numb. A friend told me, "Oh, you've been hurt before and now you don't trust anyone." I beg to differ. It's not a trust issue; it's a misunderstanding of the word itself.
It's lost in songs, poems and romantic comedies starring J-Lo.
It's lightly-dusted with exhaustion instead of smiles, giggles and that oogie feeling you get in your stomach. You get me, right? When you hear it said, it should sound like a song.

Where is the Boyz-II-Men, "End Of The Road," BabyFace "Whip-Appeal," "anything-by-Billie Holiday-love," that lies within my soul like powder, waiting for the right version of the word to 'add water and stir vigorously?' I'd drink THAT Kool-Aid and gladly leave that red, fruity ring around my lips.