Don't Be In Love

by Liana Cincotti

“I’m surprised you don’t have a million people running around in here.” I attempted to make conversation. “I like to be alone when I get the chance.” His voice was gruff, turned down at his shirt, trying to finish the tiny buttons. “I’ll make it quick then.” I put my bag down beside him. “You know that’s not what I meant. I prefer you in every room.”

“I gave you the censored version, that’s why. I also don’t think you’re supposed to find your friends beautiful.”

“You keep me up every night. I dream about August. And I dream about the night before Halloween when we kissed. And I dream about seeing you kiss someone else. I dream about things that haven’t even happened.”

“Well, if I know anything in the seventy-nine years I’ve been around, it’s that being in your twenties is arguably the most difficult time of your life. Everything you do in that decade forms what’s to come. And it feels as if you’re never doing the right thing or making the right decision.

“The mistakes I regret the most are the ones I didn’t allow to happen.

It was her, my heart pounded. She was here. It was like seeing your favorite painting for the first time. This strong urge to feel it, wrap yourself in it, cover every wall in it. She was my favorite painting.

There was something beautiful about falling in love with the uncertainty of life.