Love. Is. A.

Love. Is. A.

That was the headline of the opinion piece. It ran from the beginning of February until the weekend after Valentine’s. It asked ‘regular citizens’ how they would finish the sentence, “Love is a…”

For the last few years, I’ve made it a sort of ritual to sit down with my morning coffee and peruse people’s answers. Sometimes they were humorous, other times they were tragic. And of course, a good many of them are cheesy, keeping in tone with the holiday. This year was no different.

Almost Last Words

“If you are watching this tape…well…I’ve passed on.

“I know that you are sad. I know that you are hurt and broken. I know that you are missing me terribly.

“Kathy, I know you are upset and wishing you could have been here to fix me. It’s okay. I know you are a busy girl. You always have been.

“Jonathan, I know you are feeling burdened, like you have to suddenly fill my shoes and take over the farm. Don’t. You follow your dreams.

“My beautiful Samantha, I know you are crushed and really don’t want to be watching this right now, but please, hear my last words.

“First, I love you. I love all of you. My gorgeous bride, my two beautiful children. Never have I loved so deeply and passionately and wholly, as I love you three. My love did not change when we fought, or when we disagreed. And now that death has parted us, I know still, my love for you is the same, and yours for me.

“I would say that is the most important thing I have to say, but I have a secret to share. Something that may bring me back.”

A Teenage Love Letter

To: My Sweetheart

Subject: How you swept into my life, consumed my mind, and stole my heart

Dearest Ophelia,

How long has it been since I had seen your sweet face…

I just looked up from my computer and saw you sitting two seats away from me.

Secretly In Love

If James was in love, you wouldn’t know it. He still walked around, draped in black, hands cemented in his pockets. Nothing about his exterior gave the impression that he ever wanted to have contact with the outside world. He didn’t look up at the barista when he ordered his coffee. He didn’t make eye contact when the old lady sneezed on him at the cross walk. He kept on marching to the beat of his own dark drum, until he vanished into the abyss of his bedroom.

The Lonely Ophthamalogist

There was no love in sight.

Garfield slumped back into his office chair. There is no one to love. No one to love me, he thought. I am going to die an old, lonely ophthalmologist.

Wedding Day Inspiration

Walter lifted himself from the wheelchair.
There was a grasp that filled the church. He slowed turned his head to look from one side of the building to the next. Every guest was awestruck.

“Dad?”

Walter turned his attention to the bride that stood beside him.

“How are you doing this?”

Murderous Love in New York City

She assassinated politicians, he was NYPD.

It was one of those forbidden romances that would never last, and Agatha knew it. Her commanding officer had even said as much in her briefing meeting that morning.

” Agent A, what is this I hear about you cavorting with a member of the New York Police? You do understand why that would be bad for your cover and the entirety of our operation.”

“Yes, Commander. I understand, but Colin…”

Clown Love

It was forbidden, but so funny.

Both Andy and Sandy knew the rule, “No dating within the family.” The circus and their archaic language, they thought. Just because we all work under the same big tent, it doesn’t mean that we are family. It doesn’t that we have some familial ties that bind us, that we can’t be in romantic relationships.