I've never been in love, but I've always imagined it--weirdly--like some sort of OxiClean commercial. The TV host shows a scene from an ordinary day, and then takes a big old sponge soaked in love and swipes away the stains. Suddenly that same scene is missing all the mistakes, all the loneliness. The colors are like jewels, ten times richer than they were before. The music is louder and clearer. "Love," the host will say, "makes life a little brighter.

If it's us", she whispered, "how come you get to decide?" When he didn't answer - couldn't answer - she turned and stared out the front window. As it turned out, they were still in the parking lot. They hadn't gotten anywhere at all.

Things don't always look as they seem.

I could think whatever I wanted to, but realized that any promises I made myself were destined to be broken.

I only just found you, I can't lose you now

I became a firefighter because I wanted to save people. But I should have been more specific. I should have named names.

An apology with a defense built in isn't much of an apology