Even if neither of us got what we wanted, we found freedom in the third choices.

I had gotten so used to being alone, but never entirely used to it. Never used to it enough to stop wanting the alternative.

When I say, "Be my lover", I don't mean, "Let's have an affair." I don't mean "Sleep with me." I don't mean, "Be my secret." I want us to go back down to that root. I want you to be the one who loves me. I want to be the one who loves you.

And who am I to blow against the wind?

I could point out that it isn't always easy knowing who you are and what you want, because then you have no excuse for not trying to get it.

Luckily, I always travel with a book, just in case I have to wait on line for Santa, or some such inconvenience.

We were painting by numbers, starting with the greens. Because that happened to be our favorite color. And this, we figured, had to mean something.