The Three of Us

by Ore Agbaje-Williams

She is probably the only person in my life who has never wanted something from me, only for me.

The truth is that I don’t want children. Or I have never actively considered the reality of having them. I am not maternal, and I am unconvinced that I’ve witnessed parenting that is good enough to replicate. I can even admit that I’m a little selfish. I like to remain in control, and children—babies—do not allow for that.

I love him because his love isn’t transactional, something I grew up believing was impossible for and inaccessible to me.