The Conditions of Will

by Jessa Hastings

the same way parents are supposed to want their kids, kids have a genetic predisposition to want to be wanted by them.

It took me a long time to realize that something doesn’t have to always feel wrong to be wrong. It doesn’t even have to be violent to be wrong.

I don’t shy away from people because they’ve made mistakes. Mistakes make you human. The worst thing you could ever be to me is a liar.

“You want to get over someone quickly?” I stare over at him. “Feel everything. Every shred of loss, everything you’re missing now that they’re gone. On lonely nights, be lonely. When you’re sad, look it in the eye.

“Isn’t it the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” I stare up at the big arch, which is my favorite part, I think. “Even though it’s broken?” “Yep,” he says quietly, and he’s looking just at me.

The nicest thing you can ever do for another human being is see them, and really see them, at that. To be understood is one of most base desires we as people have,

And I think to myself, wouldn’t it be so lovely if we viewed ourselves through the same lens as the people who love us?