Release (Release #1)

by Aly Martinez

I’d often wished we had a cool story about when our relationship transitioned from that of tolerating each other to discovering we were two halves of one soul. But the truth is Thea and I evolved much like the seasons: slow, steady, and unstoppable.

Love changes a man—even when he’s not yet a man at all.

However, in that tree, suffering alone and also together, I fell in love with her like the stars falling from the sky.

But it was us, and we would later learn that finding unconditional understanding in another human being was more extraordinary and romantic than any love story.

“I can’t do this without you.” “Do what?” He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Breathe.”

Why the fuck are you so desperate?” She sank back to her heels, the mere inches giving me infinite space. “Well, that’s an easy question. I’m glad you asked.” She trailed a finger down my chest and my cock jumped as though it were the flute of a snake charmer. “Because when I was ten years old, I met a boy. I hated him. But I needed him like my veins needed blood. He broke my leg. He broke my patience. And eventually he broke my heart. But there hasn’t been a minute that’s passed that I haven’t loved him with every single broken shard.”

“There was never a day when I didn’t want you to be mine, Sparrow. I just loved you enough to hope you wouldn’t have to be.”

There was no distance or years spent apart. We weren’t broken or beaten down by life. I wasn’t a murderer. She wasn’t a victim. No. In that bed, naked and drenched in sweat, we were just two halves of one whole, the way it was always supposed to be. I’d be damned if I didn’t want to wage war with the entire fucking world—including myself—in order to hold on to that.

We were all emotionally drained and fighting our demons, but we were a family nonetheless.

Regret was nothing but a chain tethering you in the past.

“Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to live the one you’re given.