The Infinity Between Us

by N.S. Perkins

But when I gaze back at Will’s excited eyes, I know there’s no way I can do anything other than follow him. The story of my life.

He blinks. “I’ve always been willing to risk a lot of things for you.”

His lips are tight as he dips his head and wraps his arms around me, almost too tight. I can’t breathe deeply, but if that’s what dying feels like, I’d let him kill me a thousand times.

I could recognize him from the feel of his frame, from the timbre of his laugh, or even from the smell clinging to his skin. I know him like I know myself.

“You’ve always been mine, V, and I’ve always been yours. We just didn’t realize it.”

“I know when you look at me, you see everything that went wrong, but when I look at you?” He licks his lips. “Violet, when I look at you, I still see the love of my life.”

Just thought you should know that if you ever find it in you to love this house—or me—again, we’ll be right here.”

“I don’t know if our parents were meant to meet, but I can’t shake the feeling that even if they hadn’t, we would’ve somehow found each other.”

“They weren’t you, V. I didn’t realize it before, but once I was with them, I expected their hair to smell like your strawberry shampoo and their hugs to feel like yours and their laughter to sound like yours. I was looking for you in every girl I met.” His thumb brushes against my parted lips. “But there’s no other you, Violet. You’re it for me.”

“Don’t waste your time being angry when you could be in love.”