When My Heart Joins the Thousand

by A.J. Steiger

“That’s ridiculous. It didn’t even hurt that much. Besides, shouldn’t I get to be the one who decides what I can and can’t handle? I’m not so weak that I need to be protected from my own choices.”

I trace the scars on his ribs, like Braille. A history of pain. But without that pain, he wouldn’t be who he is: someone with enough empathy to reach out to me, enough courage to love me. “You’re perfect, Stanley.”