In The Event This Doesn't Fall Apart

by Shannon Lee Barry

“Please stop that,” I say, and it is the first and only time I lie to you. Please don’t ever stop. I want to be looked at by you until the sun goes down.

It is easy to go through something hard with you. I think that could be the beginnings of something like love.

I never loved anyone who deserved it.

But the decision to love you? It burst one day, instantaneous, fully formed, into my consciousness. When it came to loving you, it was fact. There was never a decision at all.