The Co-op

by Tarah DeWitt

When someone’s arms are wrapped around you it’s easy to miss the knife in their hands.

I guess when the ones who are supposed to love you the most never made you feel safe or important, I’d assume the worst of people, too.

I wonder if she’s quick to want justice for other people because no one ever did that for her.

“There’s a difference between feeling sorry for someone and being angry for someone, LaRynn.

“He looks like he’s seen a ghost,” she says, her hand dusting nothing from my pec. “I love it when you scare people.”

“I’d find you,” I tell him, firmly. “And I don’t think there’s a version of you I couldn’t love.”