Unbound Desires

OL

O

or, staring at James Alexander Reed, a man I ba

go, I was a

my future didn't belong to me a

lenced it before saying a word. His green eyes didn't just look at me

Fascination?

ch him, should've made me want to run. It didn'

had to really look to catch it. But I was looking. And I didn't know

it hi

of

t. The sick twist of disbelief th

The one I'd pictured since I was five had t

o feel joy. Or h

l ache where those thing

en figure out how

now. There was

s ma

omeone I

someone

someone

spoken echoed s

s d

his voice. He h

d the ro

lded the marriage certificate and handed it to his la

late

ehind me and pressed my palm

d and glittering and alive. And I stood sealed ab

he skyline smudged

. Not even the hum of traffic. The city's voice cou

ence. On

ropped away, and I w

drifting in black water. One curren

ed in front of me

oice guiding

hear it, but I knew it was there. Tugging at the

where I thought I

what scar

the

he si

at wasn't sure I

O

ay - 5:

ent buzzed with a st

nd waiting felt duller today. It pressed l

ing. Smiles. Hushed congratulations. A

ow, it wa

e Da

e-to

ng. Chewing through every quiet second. I moved through

e of it all. Not what he said. How h

supposed to

thing fe

d out o

dn't stop

ed. Each ping fel

he life I'd

r to

ayed back. Not al

o. The ri

Andrew's finger. Asked if he wanted somethin

he ring like it me

commitment. So

e stretche

nally. Clipped.

locked

about how unromantic he was.

d wrong. Flat in my ches

d in my head. Th

't been

ll of somethin

t I liste

rs opened. Clean

the life I thou

I hes

silence, was suddenly lo

No big red flags. No second paus

hook i

I was ma

mean everyth

A

elevator wall. Still.

s stayed tight. E

tayed fix

fi

shed. Tranquil in a way

ckles on her nose. Close enough t

his close and st

even glance at me. I was no one

de her. "Excited about

can't wait. I just hope e

sunlight. Her

ut on whatever chan

der than I ca

uiet hope I'd let grow i

round. Her schedule. Her kindness. Told me

the truth th

s abo

rd floor. I moved to the side. She step

, startled. "

wed. "No

lingered. Cl

around me l

s. Held on to the feeling. Fil

ed at my chest. I d

nted her. But my

t to marry s

me wa

h I hadn't realiz

what matters. Tha

opened. She

ors parted. And

of the city, like a l

nto her

, wrapped in silence, breaking

orward, full of p

still. Qu