The Holly Dates

by Brittainy C. Cherry

Loneliness had a way of making one return to the worst situations.

Novels saved millions of people from uncomfortable situations.

“Let’s just say sometimes books are better than reality.”

One of the only consistent things in my life was the fact I was going to read all the books possible.

“Life happens when we’re not looking in all directions. Sometimes it’s messy.”

Things can always get better if we believe better exists.”

“I want to be better than good. I want to be your safe place.”

I wished our emotions were like faucets. Something we could turn on and off at our demand.

She pulled back, and I instantly missed her touch. I didn’t realize how cold I was until her warmth found me. Her phone dinged, making her return to reality.

There is someone who sees you and knows for a fact that you are something unique to this world. There is someone who wants to give you everything you’ve ever wanted and more.

Weeks ago, I didn’t know her name. Now, I struggled to imagine a world without her in it.

I missed holding her the second she moved away from me.

Holly was a woman who felt a lot of things at all times. I was a man who felt little until she came into my world.

“Love puts on blinders. It makes it hard to see the truth sometimes.”

“You’re just going through a storm right now. It can’t rain forever.”

“That’s the problem with trauma. Those who inflict it aren’t the ones who have to do the unpacking to heal from it.”

“Because you’re everything. You’re the sun, you’re the moon, you’re the stupid snowman in someone’s front yard with the stupid crooked carrot smile. You’re every good day and every crappy night and every in-between mundane afternoon. So I’m sorry, you can’t choose to leave me. It’s not an option. Do whatever you have to do to get past this. Be pissed at me. Ghost me for a day or two. Cuss me out and shove me around, but don’t leave me, Holly, please.” My voice cracked as I stepped closer to her. “Because if there is no you, then there is nothing.”

There was something so special about someone who believed in you when you didn’t know how to believe in yourself.

love was a choice. It was something we chose day in and day out. Love was a verb. It was active, growing, and evolving,