Fall at Once

by Nora Everly

“It’s the way of the world. Things have to die to make room for the new.

I had to decide what I wanted from a man and not just settle for the scraps he was willing to give me.

life was like a mirror. It will smile at you if you smile at it.

I didn’t know whether to love it or hate how attracted to her I had become.

She was like fucking sunshine, and I was nothing but a grumpy, dark cloud.

Her nearness was overwhelming. She could run me over with her car, and I probably wouldn’t mind too much.

“You kiss me this time. Do anything you want to me. Climb in my lap, shove me against the door, take what you need, go as far as you want⁠—”

She fit me to perfection. Like she was made to be with me, and this was only one of the millions of kisses we had shared.

I was so afraid of messing up whatever this beautiful, precious thing with Madi was that I remained fixed in place rather than risk everything in taking a step forward with her.

“Get her peonies. Baby pink peonies.”

“I’m always on your side, Madison. Always. Even if you’re wrong, I will have your back.”