One True Loves

A moment that creates a “before” and an “after.”

“You and I aren’t going to spend our lives together,” Jesse says. “But I finally understand that that doesn’t take away any of the beauty of the fact that we were right for each other once.”

“True love doesn’t always last,” I say. “It doesn’t always have to be for a lifetime.”

“Right. And that doesn’t mean it’s not true love,” Jesse says.

It was real.

And now it’s over.

And that’s OK.

“I am who I am because I loved you once,” he says.

“I am who I am because I loved you once, too,” I say.

And then we say good-bye.

You don’t tie yourself to something unless you’re scared you might float away.

I think that perhaps everyone has a moment that splits their life in two. When you look back on your own timeline, there’s a sharp spike somewhere along the way, some event that changed you, changed your life, more than the others.

What else could you want in a person other than kindness and humor?

“Will you marry me?”

“Maybe. We could escape out of here. Go all Bonnie and Clyde.”

“Maybe. We could escape out of here. Go all Bonnie and Clyde.”

If he ever wanted to hold my hand, I’d never, ever, ever let go.

It was real.

And now it’s over.

And that’s OK.

“I am who I am because I loved you once,” he says.

“I am who I am because I loved you once, too,” I say.

And then we say good-bye.