Here and Now and Then

by Mike Chen

He stood by it and hesitated to put her down, an uncontrollable urge to shell his own body around her, to shield her against any possible harm the past, present, or future might bring to her. The urge came and went, and in its place came an understanding of her place in the world now, that setting her down didn’t mean he wasn’t still protecting her.

the here and now was a fine place to be.