Built to Fall

by Julia Wolf

That was why she was the apple, the snake, the garden. My perfect Eden.

“Being hurt by the man who’s supposed to love you doesn’t mean you’re not a strong woman. It means the man is weak.”

“You are Eden and damnation, Claire.”

“If I have the choice between stewing in my own thoughts and spending every waking second with you, it’s going to be you every single time.”

“You deserve that. The moon and the stars and the whole fucking universe.”

But when you said you’d stay with me...I panicked. I wanted that too, but I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t let you tie yourself to a sinking ship.”

“I’m in love with you. I’ve weighed the risks, and loving you is worth it.”

Instead of casting me out, Claire held me closer. Looking back now, I didn’t know why I ever tried to fight against this. When it came to Claire, my life, my paradise, there had never been a chance I wasn’t going to fall.