The Stranger I hadn't used the word "love" in several years, not since I realized how much gravity it actually carries. When I first started dating, I was a wide-eyed romantic who had never been so close to a woman. The feeling was new and refreshing and I followed an impractical guideline learned from television and movies. After that, I didn't date anyone for over a year, and I took this time to reflect on the significance of the word. In every relationship since, I found ways to tell them how I honestly felt without resorting to something so insincere.

I stood in the shower while the world felt like it was crumbling around me. She surprised me then, joining me under the water. I was at my most vulnerable and I heard myself say it. I love you. I wondered who this stranger was, standing in my place like this. He was the result of panic, and love should never come from that.  ¶ 12:20 PM