You & I, Rewritten

by Chip Pons

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with recognizing how we each react to stress and anxiety. Trust me when I say I’ve been there, done that. There is no shame in being in-tune with our emotional and mental health needs.”

“Oh hell…” I all but growl at Graham, grabbing the lapels of his jacket and pulling him toward me, hard. I hear him chuckle but that quickly stops as I crash my lips onto his, feeling the contradiction of his rough stubble compared to his impossibly soft lips.

But…no, it’s just that with him, it feels like exhaling. That’s the only way I can describe it. Like I’ve been holding this breath my entire life,” I point to my heart. “And then this man comes along, and he sees me for who I am, and for the first time in my life, I can just be.”

Don’t risk living a life wondering what could have been because of someone else’s hurt and pain.”

“But loving you and knowing you love me back has fundamentally changed me. It’s like being seen for the first time ever. Like I am free of the man I thought I needed to be and I finally get to be who I’ve always wanted to be—happy, spontaneous and so hopelessly in love with the man of my dreams.”

“And if I have any say in the matter, I hope to be worthy of every second of your always.”

“I will spend the rest of my life telling and showing you that if you need me to, because I love you, Will. I am so sorry you are hurting, but I will help you through it with every ounce of love I have.”

there are moments where I find myself moving in slow motion, almost paralyzed by the what ifs,