A Risk on Forever

by N.S. Perkins

I’ve always considered myself a hopeless romantic. Reading about love blooming, especially between two people reluctant to it, has always been one of my favorite things in the world. I liked to read about people getting closer and connections being created. I loved to long for a first kiss and dread the eventual fights in the couple’s future.

I wanted to pump myself up for work, so I played Taylor Swift’s 1989 album. Never failed to put me in a good mood.

Show your emotions. Cry when you’re sad, laugh when you’re happy, scream when you’re mad, and kiss when you’re in love. You have every right to feel whatever it is you’re feeling, and expressing it can only help to show who you are as a person.

You deserve to be with people who want to know your truth and to see your heart above all else.

Without fun, you’ll never find true happiness.

“Because he looks at you the way Daddy used to look at Mommy.”

With love and empathy, you can never lose.

Your moment is now.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” Her voice was strained. I gazed at her, understanding exactly what she meant, even if she couldn’t tell my eyes were only on her. “I know.”

“I would’ve let you break my heart a thousand times over, just for the chance of getting more of the moments of pure happiness I felt when I was with you. If you’d just given me something, I would’ve given you everything.”

“Falling in love with you wasn’t gradual. It hit me like a tidal wave.”