The Exception to the Rule

by Christina Lauren

I like a lot of things, but I don’t LOVE any one thing. It feels scary, you know? To worry I might commit to something because I have to but not because I love it.

came in thinking I knew what I wanted to do and pivoted last year (sophomore) to something related but different, and it was fine. I feel like there’s this expectation that you’ll come in at 18 and know exactly what it is you’ll do for the rest of your life, but it isn’t realistic.

As one of my sisters reminded me, it’s always good to recognize what doesn’t work for me. So it’s all good.

Is it weird that I just had a pang of sadness that I won’t be at your college graduation? I know we don’t know each other, really, and I don’t have any idea where you’re going to school, but in the past six years of change and chaos, you’ve been a constant.

Yes, I am four hours early! And no I don’t care! I WIN! I know we said last year that if we were both going to be in Irvine we were going to connect, but I guess that plan doesn’t work when we’re in the midst of a global pandemic. I thought about you a lot this past year, though. I hope that doesn’t sound weird.

Overhearing that conversation made me realize I’ve never really had good sex. I can’t believe I’m about to hit Send on this but

From the second Terra walked out of the classroom, I wanted to see her again. Immediately. I have this buzzed, vibrating feeling in my limbs. No matter how fantastical it sounds, it feels like we were destined to run into each other in some truly unbelievable way.

The swell of her breasts beneath the tight fabric of her long-sleeved thermal shirt.

With my thumping heart scaling my windpipe, I jog down to him, where he and that sparkling, widening smile are walking toward me, faster now, and I throw my arms around him. He catches me with one arm, holding me so tight, and exhaling the most amazing sound into my neck.