Here We Go Again

by Alison Cochrun

“Life is the prickly pear. It’s always going to be a combination of beauty and hurt, no matter how hard you try to protect yourself from the hard parts. There is no way to avoid pain.”

She thought Rosemary would kiss like they’re in a Jane Austen novel, but she kisses her like they’re in a Jane Austen movie adaptation.

“My prickly pear, you’re safe with me. You can stop working so hard to protect yourself.”

“Watching the two of you grow up was the coolest shit I witnessed in this life.”