But love—it’s a choice—a commitment to try
and fail, and try again
to invite in the unknown
and hold on to what makes you feel
alive and seen.
This goes for romantic, self, or community love.
It’s not about perfection
—it’s about being vulnerable—
welcoming in what cannot be contained
or bottled up and trusting it to guide you
somewhere new.
I’ve had twenty beautiful years
with your mom. Despite everything
it was worth it to try again.
Even though Mom’s the English professor
I swear Mama Alice could be a poet.
I let her words
echo through my mind
trying to find a place to be still.
We love you very much, Junie,
Mom adds.
That willneverchange.
Your mama and I
well,wehave changed.
And we owe it to ourselves
to let this version of ourselvesgo.
Can you understand that?
I don’t know, I say
because it’s trueI don’t know
where to go from here
