The Fall Risk

by Abby Jimenez

“Women solve entire murders on their podcasts, you think I can’t find out all I need to know about some rando I met on the lawn?”

“Female trees produce fruit. Fruit falls, it makes messes, it attracts vermin. So most trees planted in urban areas are male. They put out pollen with no female trees to absorb it, so it ends up in the air instead.” I gaped at him. “It’s true.” “That is botanical sexism,” I breathed. “Also, that would make a great band name.”

“So you have a fish?” I asked. “Yeah. A betta fish.” “Oh. Does he have a name?” “He does. Swim Shady.” I barked out a laugh. “Is he the real Swim Shady or . . .” “All the other Swim Shadys are just imitating,” he said, totally serious.

“Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”

“Sometimes the start of something good begins during something bad,” he said. “We don’t get to pick when these things happen.”

They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.