The Right Sign

by Nia Arthurs

The most important lesson dad taught me about love is that it’s a choice. Not a feeling. Not the world moving in slow motion. Not my pants getting tight at a single look across the room. It’s deciding one day. And the next day. And the day after that.

Until twenty years have passed and you’re still choosing her because love is choosing even when it sucks. But if you chose the right one, well, then… even when it sucks it’s worth it.

Does she have any idea how much I want to please her? I say what I will always say from now on when she asks for something. “Yes.”

He's got it bad already, not even in a real relationship yet.

“Words are meant to be strong. That’s how we decide if something’s right or wrong.”

Wear what you want. I pay my lawyers enough to bail me out if I get into a fight.

“Yaya.” He finger spells my name fluently, easily, as if he’s practiced how to sign my name a hundred times. “Even when you’re not looking at me, I will always be facing you.”

Aww, he's too sweet

“She’s more than just a ‘normal’ person to me. I want to spoil her.”

I'm here for it, yessss!!!

“You think, if you were my girlfriend, you’d be sitting over there and not in my lap?” His eyes are tight and narrowed. “I’m holding myself back with every inch of my willpower. Every time you look at me, every time you smile, there’s so much I want to do for you. With you.” His gaze holds me captive. “To you.”

“You’re getting a little too close to admitting you feel something for me too. And when you do, Yaya, I am never letting you go.”