Aflame

A man who stands in front of a woman does nothing more than block her view.

I’m never letting you go again, Tate,” I whispered, almost desperate. “I’m your friend forever, and if that’s all I get, then that’s what I’m taking, because only when you’re here”—I took her hand and placed it on my heart—“do I feel like my life is worth a damn.

It will be my ring on your finger and my kids in your belly someday.

As my friend, I liked you,” I whispered. “As my enemy, I craved you. As a fighter, I loved you, and as my wife”—I slid the ring the rest of the way on—“I keep you.” I squeezed her hand. “Forever,” I promised.

A man who stands in front of a woman does nothing more than block her view. She needs a man standing next to her, so grow up.

Can we just skip to the end?” I asked softly. “I’m tired of missing you,

I wanted her to love me again. I wanted her to say she was mine. And I didn’t want to have to bully her about it, either.

At ten years old, Jared was my friend. At fourteen, my enemy; at eighteen, my lover; and at twenty, my heartbreak. I’d known him more than half my life, and although the roles had changed, his impact was always all consuming. Always.

The more you embrace change, though, the easier it gets.

I pulled Dylan up onto my lap, her little yellow Chucks rubbing against my shins. “Hi, Daddy,” she chirped. “I miss you.

His text took only a moment. You tell the guy you’re dating that your boyfriend’s back. I let my arms drift back down to the bed as I closed my eyes, sighing. Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, too. My phone beeped again. And he’s gonna be in trouble . . .

This isn't high school," I said, eyeing him playfully. "You're way out of your depth.

I never wanted other women... I left so that I could be a man for you. So I could come back for you

Jax cleared his throat. “You two have loved each other the longest,” he said softly. “Doesn’t seem right that you’ll be the last to get married.

I laid the side of my face on his back, hugging him close. “Nothing feels right without you. Not school or home,” I cried. “Everything is just giving me enough air to get to the next day without you. I never stopped being yours.” He dropped his head back, letting out a sigh. I swallowed, taking my chance. “I love you, Jared. I’ve always loved you, and I will always love you.

A man who stands in front of a woman does nothing more that block her view. She needs a man standing next to her.

Everything is just giving me enough air to get to the next day without you. I never stopped being yours.” He dropped his head back, letting out a sigh. I swallowed, taking my chance. “I love you, Jared. I’ve always loved you, and I will always love you.

I'm your friend forever, and if that's all I get, then that's what I'm taking because only when you are here...do I feel like my life is worth a damn

You are written all over my body...the tattoos can never be erased. You hold my heart, and you can never be replaced

I exist as I am, that is enough" Song of Myself by Walt Whitman

When you think about the women who aren't interested in my brother, it pretty much just leaves the lesbians