When I am nostalgic for my life, I put on Giving You the Best That I Got. I am floating just above the time-space continuum. I am witnessing the bouquet of possibility. I am glancing at each version of me and you.
In one life, I am not a texter. Nearly all of our communication passes through our lips. You live without the pressure to respond to triple texts and that gives you, a recovering people-pleaser, boundless time to reclaim. You fill your moments with jasmine tea, elaborate art project, and curated days. You breathe full and panic-free breaths. Our togetherness lasts years. It is honeysuckle sweet.
“Everybody’s got opinions about the way they think our story’s gonna end.”
In one timeline, we take it molasses slow. We are moving in ways almost imperceivable, though graceful. We let things unfurl at the pace of compassion. It is not as if there is never a freeze. We are blossoms after a frost. The root still gorgeous even if the plant looks tired. I am tired in this world too, but less. This universe does not swallow your best friend. That is my favorite part.
“We love so strong and so unselfishly…”
In at least six iterations of our story, the hands of time haven’t shaped us fearful. We set boundaries and respect one another’s. We communicate directly. We do not hide behind pleasantries. The lines we refuse to read between never become fault lines. We stay intact.
“I like the sound of your song
and I think I want to sing it forever.”
Having a rough mental health day so I don’t think this is my strongest work but 🙂 some days are like that. Mind the typo, please! <3
This is lovely. Lilting and hopeful even when it sounds like something hurts, it’s still hopeful and wishful and possible. Love is like that. Hopeful and wishful and possible. When it had become something else, it is far from its purpose…far from the meaning of its name. Thank you for writing this.,
The title is excellent, how it embraces the different versions of the relationship, it’s the tie that binds.
“In one life, I am not a texter.” This hit me hard as it pairs so closely with “When I am nostalgic for my life …”. this version of life before is one many have never experienced. So important to document the what came before.
This piece moves so beautifully. Especially as it moves through the difficult challenges of a shared life. The writer does such a good job bringing into focus the points of challenge and imagining a way through, I loved the song that is the touchstone in each life (Hope you are feeling better)