Older

by Jennifer Hartmann

guess that was why I loved too much. I had a lot of loveless holes to fill.

Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop. —Ziad K. Abdelnour

“Life is living. If you’re not living exactly the way you want to live, then what’s the fucking point?”

having an abundant heart in a hollow world was an affliction I was helpless to overcome.

“Relationships are overrated. Love is nothing but a building block for collapse. A stepping stone for tripping and stumbling into a black hole you can’t climb out of it.”

“When you’re a parent, you’re consciously aware that these days are ahead, destined to find you. You try to prepare, and you think you’ll be ready, but it’s not possible. These moments always seem so damn far away at the time, and then—bam. No more piggyback rides, no more swimming lessons, no more birthday

cake painting the walls. It’s like I blinked and you were older.”

hope you find someone who complements you in every way, who gives you strength and courage, who fights for you tooth and nail, no matter the consequences, and who loves every single piece of you. Even the sad pieces. Even the ugly pieces you try to keep buried.”

A fresh beginning. A tragic end. All at the same time.

But promises were like petals in the wind. Easily scattered. Hard to hold.

Love did that. It zapped your heart when it’d rather give out, and

Not all mothers were meant to be caretakers. Not all monsters were meant to be rehabilitated. And not all love stories were meant to last.

Let this be your second chance at life. Take risks. Take opportunities.

Forgiveness comes a lot easier when you’ve had practice.

Imperfections are what bind us together. Our common thread. We’re all capable of screwing up, but we’re all capable of forgiving, too. That’s what makes us stronger humans.”

Growing old with the one you love was an underrated treasure. Aging was frightening. Death was an ominous certainty that nipped at our ankles.