The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

by Breanne Randall

Some people needed flowers and pretty words. Sadie needed truth and kept promises.

At night, Sadie would feel the space calling to her until she snuck out and danced among the sweet peas and rainbow chard as the plants swayed in a secret welcome.

“When you stop being so afraid of being alone, you’ll realize your worth and stop letting people walk all over you.”

“Helping people isn’t the same as loving them, Sadie.”

Sadie held onto the past like a drunkard clutching his whisky. Vices like that were a comfort blanket when you feared the future.

You could cook all the magic in the world into the most delicate of dishes, but, Sadie thought, nothing compared to the magic of sharing an ordinary meal with people you loved.

“They say that in a relationship there’s always the lover and the loved. But I don’t think that’s right. I think it changes. Sometimes you’re the one who loves more, and other times you’re the one who needs to be loved. That’s what a relationship is. Bracing the other person when they need it. Love is knowing you have open arms to fall back into.”

Why hadn’t she ever been better about taking photos and videos? Why hadn’t she journaled all of Gigi’s stories, recorded all her funny sayings and typed out recipes so she’d never forget them?

Relatable.

Death had a way of sneaking up on you, even when you were expecting it. It was absolutely impossible until it wasn’t.