The Switch

by Beth O'Leary

stand still, and I let myself miss her. I let it come. And I don’t break. It hurts like nothing else, a keening raw hurt, but I’m here – no Ethan with his arms around me, no laptop in front of me – and I’m not running, not working, not shouting. And whatever I was afraid of – falling apart, losing control … It doesn’t happen. The pain of missing her is scorching, but I’ll live through