Push me up against a wall and watch me flower. I thrive in tight spaces, under rocks, and behind shadows. If you look closely, you’ll see I’m deliberately leaning into the confinement, allowing the pressure to mold me. I’m pliant enough to enjoy it.

She was drawn to the center of the valley, where the night’s coolness lingered at sunrise. The sun lifted above the surrounding mountain peaks, silhouetting the hikers perched on bouldered precipices. Grounding herself into the concave depression, she closed her eyes as the others marveled at the sun. Her light was dawning within her.

Time travel and soul eyes swirling in a maelstrom of confusion. What is me and what is you and what is the merging between us. Drop your wingmen and speak into nothingness, letting the stardust settle into spirals. There we’ll find the truth.

Your rose petals litter the path ahead of me. Each time I spot a blush-colored oval, I run to the floral offering, taking in its sweet aroma before bathing my cheek in its soft delicacy. I’ll swear the one petal is all I need, but soon enough, I’m looking down the path for future silky delights. Will you tell me which one is your final offering, so I can savor it especially? I may have collected petals from dozens of roses, but the present one is always the most precious.

You grabbed me by the hair and led me out behind the woodshed. In the morning, you took in my purple eye, my lacerated arms, and my winced movement, and asked what had happened to me.

Your storm rolled in last night and caught me in its vortex. In the morning, you took in the downed tree limbs, the upturned picnic table, and the broken glass, and started playing in the standing water.

Your shadow threw a party last night and kept me up until 2 am. In the morning, you took in my slow walk to the shower, my two aspirins, and my dry toast, and asked if I wanted to go for a run.

No, I don’t want to put on my Nikes right now, no, I don’t want to splash in the puddles with you, and yes, I do know what happened to me.

When I’m vibrating at your frequency, the spark that lives behind my belly button jumps between two carbon rods. The electrostatic movement attracts others with similar circuits, but there are so few wired like me. When I do meet a parallel electric force, I can’t help but remove all of my resistors, letting the amperage rise. The resulting voltage causes most to recoil in fear, but occasionally a series connection occurs. The power in that circuit explodes me into you.

Surrender meant vulnerability. I didn’t see that coming. And when it happened, I had no choice but to rip out my heart and lay it at your feet. I’m hoping you won’t run away, slipping on the pool of blood that is blooming around us. I know the mess is scary and full of uncertainties, but if you place your heart on the floor next to mine, the convergence will be strong enough to keep all of our enemies at bay.