Seven Days in June

by Tia Williams

“No matter how perilous the journey, it’s never over for true soul mates. Who doesn’t want a connection that burns forever, despite distance, time, and curses?”

Alone doesn’t care that I don’t shave my legs in the winter. Alone never gets disappointed by me.” Eva sighed. “It’s the best relationship I’ve ever been in.”

“I like being single,” Eva continued quietly. “I don’t want anyone to have to really see me.”

“Listen, caring about things don’t make you soft. It makes you alive.”

Girls are given the weight of the world, but nowhere to put it down. The power and magic born in that struggle? It’s so terrifying to men that we invented reasons to burn y’all at the stake, just to keep our dicks hard.”

“When you’re drowning, you’ll do anything to get air.”

Boldly, he met her gaze and got caught there, a breath too long. A charge passed between them, flickered, and faded.

Eva was older, but the same bones were under her skin. The same flame, dulled to an ember, waiting for a spark to set her ablaze again.

Her dad was vacation, though. Eva was home.

“Synesthesia. It’s when you’re overstimulated and your senses get confused. You see music. Hear colors. Taste words.”

Shane was her lighthouse. If he went dark, she’d be lost, treading black water forever.

But in her thoughts, they’d still been kids. She couldn’t imagine them relating to each other as adults. Whatever Shane sparked in her, she’d thought she’d outgrown. But they weren’t who they used to be. They were better. She pulled the duvet closer to her chin, her cheeks blazing, and she had an epiphany. Shane wasn’t a thing to outgrow. He’d always fit. No matter how old or young or sophisticated or raw she was. No matter how much time had passed. Shane was inevitable.

matter what kind of mother you are; daughters always blame moms for every mess they make.”

“Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready”

Pretty women are normal, but pretty men are nightmares.”

Being fearless enough to hold each other close no matter how catastrophic the world became. Loving each other with enough ferocity to quell the fears of the past.