Love, Theoretically

by Ali Hazelwood

I find that people like me better if they don’t have to expend emotional energy on me.

“Be gentle with me, Elsie. That’s all I ask.”

“I’m here,” Jack says. We’re alone in this hallway, me and him. Just the two of us, in any way that matters. “But take your time, Elsie. I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”