Upside Down

by N.R. Walker

And he could look at me all starry eyed and get all flustered and ramble on about how good looking he thought I was, but it was he that did that to me. It was he who left my heart hammering and soaring at the same time.

I don’t give a fuck what people read, as long as they read. From manga to gardening books, it doesn’t matter, and why people scoff at romance, I’ll never know. Because isn’t it a beautiful thing? Romance, that is. People wanting a happy ending. How is that ever wrong?

“It’s okay,” he replied. “I’ve done it too. I thought it would help, and I thought it would make them happy.” I looked at him then, and his eyes searched mine. “But it made you feel like you’d whored yourself out? Like a transaction where sex was the currency but all you got from the deal was a sick feeling in your gut because you’d just sold yourself for sex.”

“Their happiness shouldn’t come at the expense of your own.”

And hugs are… well, a good hug can fix a wounded soul.”

Don’t ever think you’re doing something wrong by saying no. Blame should fall on the person with the expectation that they are owed sex.

His face appeared in front of me, concerned and sad. “Hey, is my Jordan Burrito alive in there?” “Yeah.” My voice cracked. His frown grew deeper, but he sat on the coffee table so I could see him. “This is the saddest burrito I’ve ever seen.”

“Have they asked you to move in with them?” “It’s been mentioned, but I don’t wanna. They have a big place and said they wanted me to, but I said I have a Jay, and I like living with him. He’s like my big brother, and I’m not too smart, but he looks out for me and won’t break my heart like they could, ya know?”

“Love the dress.” It was purple, and her yellow cardigan and orange shoes somehow kind of all worked. “Thanks!” She said, shoving her hands into the pockets. “It has pockets!”

“Jordan, Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine? “Marry me. Say you’ll spend your life with me.”

But you’re the light in my dark, and you’re my missing puzzle piece too. When everything was out of place and upside down, you made everything right. Nothing really made sense until you.”