If It Makes You Happy

by Julie Olivia

And then there’s Cliff, arriving home from work late, mid-laugh as he steps out of his truck, like a crack of lightning in the empty sky.

Cliff curls a single finger, gesturing for me to come over. The motion snags on me, coaxing my chest forward, like his finger has a string tied to my body.

wish I could pause this moment. Maybe keep it on my shelf like a beautiful snow globe I can shake whenever I like. But that isn’t how life works.