I can be the one 
who says she doesn’t need a man
then
holds her breath
waiting for his text back

I can be the one
who savors her solitude 
then 
drives late at night
in bad weather
just to sleep next to him

I can be the one 
who resents the gender pay gap
then 
looks expectantly at her date 
when the dinner bill arrives

I can be the one
who wants monogamy
but not the ring
the relationship
but not the label

I can be the one 
who denies the existence 
of romantic love 
then falls 
deeper 
and harder 
than ever before