Definitely Better Now

by Ava Robinson

Work Emma didn’t publicly flirt with coworkers.

As the years went on, I was feeling younger and younger. My body was aging, but my soul was Benjamin Button–ing.

All good lies are believable, after all. I knew that because I was a liar, too.

“The only thing I really wanted when I grew up was stability, I guess. I liked to imagine having a family. Being part of a unit. A husband and kids.”

It was almost embarrassing how beautiful I found him.

The truth was, we’d already moved on from each other, and there wouldn’t be any going back.

I fastened my eyes on the table. I wouldn’t look at him again. Three seconds passed. I looked at him.

I felt like a cat who’d found a patch of sunlight, and I wanted to roll and revel in it.

If I only have so many breaths, I want to take each one with intention.”