May is my best friend. We met a decade ago in college, and I’ve been in love with her ever since. We dated for a little while, but I screwed things up, life took us in different directions, and long story short, she’s married with a kid now. We still hang out and talk all the time, and love each other very much. Alas, love alone is not strong enough to make things work, so she’s married to a man who does not deserve her, and she stays with him for the stability I cannot provide, and he’s a good father to their son.
Last week, she needed a break from motherhood and came to my house to visit. I live alone, save for my cat, and it’s a nice, quiet, refuge from the noisy chaos of a 3 year-old. We had long conversations about life, my work, and everything. Sushi for dinner. Her enrapturing smile.