Forbidden

“I’m falling in love with you.”

“Don’t, look at me that way. You know we can’t do this.”

“I know. But my head and my heart refuse to agree.”

“This is a mistake.”

“The feelings aren’t the mistake—only the actions.”

“It doesn’t seem fair.”

“All’s fair in love and war.”

“I don’t think I believe that.”

*“What’s worth fighting for, then? Isn’t love the reason we go to war?”

“How can something that comes so naturally feel so wrong?”

“Perhaps it’s just what we’ve been taught.”

“Or maybe it’s who we are.”

“We can’t stop this train—not in time.”

“Would we, if we could?”

“Maybe not.”

“It feels too good—to be heard, to be seen.”

“To be touched?”

“Actions are the mistake, remember?”

“Does this feel like a mistake?”

“It feels like a pathway to somewhere, but I can’t see where it may lead.”

“I can.”

“Tell me, please.”

“It could lead to vulnerability, a perfect storm, culminating in beauty and light.”

“It could lead to mutual destruction.”

“and I would call out your name in the midst of the rubble.”

“I would reach my hand out to find yours.”

“Careful now.”

“What if it’s too late and we have to be reckless?”

“I thought that we couldn’t?”

“I can’t help but wonder…if it would be a sin not to.”

“Do you believe in soul mates?”

“I never have.”

“A soulmate is defined as “a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.”

“But what if we aren’t ideally suited? What if the world collapses, only to rebuild itself as a barrier between us? What if all we have is the ache of our souls longing for one another—does a word exist to define us still?”

“I worry that I never realized your soul was mine to seek, and I found you far too late.”

“ What if we were once entwined a million years ago, our bond severed by the relentless pull of time and space? Must we wait for the next life, hoping the universe realigns us? Will you search for me in the hereafter? Will you know me when you do?”

“I will always find us.”

“How do you know?”

“Because there was a hole in me, and then I found you.”

“Have I filled it?”

“I feel complete. No matter how far away you are, just the thought of you alone makes me feel whole.”

“I knew you, the day we met, a familiarity was there. It scared me, it still scares me.”

“I would never hurt you.”

“I already ache for you. There’s a pain in the longing.”

“I feel that ache too, I have an idea about how we can ease that pain.”

“You should be careful now…”

“I thought it was time to be reckless?”

“There’s more pain to be had, to be spread.”

“There’s more to life than these silly rules.”

“The rules give us guardrails in life.”

“Or gates that keep us from where we want to go.”

“There’s a lot to lose, if we choose this.” 

“There’s a lot to gain.”

“You know what's at stake here.”

“I want to be worthy of battle.”

“That’s not In question, you’re worthy of the fight. I just don’t know if I’m ready for the fall out.”

“We could run away. Hide from the scorns in our world.”

“It’s a lovely thought, whimsical and freeing.”

“Do you believe in magic?”

“I never did before, but I see magic in you.”

“You think I’m a witch?”

“Hmm, some days. Most days I see you more as a siren.”

“Luring men to their death with my song?”

“And your beauty.”

“Are you afraid of me killing you?”

“No, but I am afraid that loving you could lead to my demise in other ways.”

“Loving you is hard for me, too.”

“We could simply end this.”

“But it hasn’t even begun yet.”

“Perhaps that’s best.”

“Let’s not revisit that idea. The best is yet to come, if only you’d come with me.”

“Why do I believe that?”

“How could you not?”

“You could simply be a temptress, and I am your prey.”

“Then why do I feel as though I’m the gazelle about to be devoured?”

“It’s all in your head, I don’t want to destroy you.”

“I want to be devoured by you.”

“Is that right?”

“Mmmhmm, I fantasize about it, from time to time.”

“We have had to live through our fantasies.”

“I have an active imagination, and you inspire me daily.”

“I’ve never been a muse before.”

“You ignite my creativity, my love, my muse. That feels right.”

“And you’ve touched me, in new and unexpected ways.”

“So run away with me.”

“We have to remain grounded, my dear.”

“Kiss me.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Kiss me.”

“I’ll take your hand in mine.”

“The way your fingers feel wrapping around mine, is no less intimate.”

“It feels safer.”

“I don’t want to be safe with you. I want to dive head- first into the dark waters.”

“If I’m honest, just talking like this, feels like a deep dive into the shark infested waters.”

“I’ll heal your wounds and treasure your scars.”

“You are dangerous.”

“One night, can you give me just one night?”

“I feel weak in your presence, and sick without you. One night would never be enough.”

“Instead I’m faced with eternal suffering.”

“They say love is about sacrifice.”

“I would sacrifice eternal longing for one night of indulgence.”

“It could make this all so much harder.”

“What if it’s a misery, then it could make this all so much easier.” 

“I would sacrifice eternal longing to forever hold onto the fantasy.”

“I’m sure that’s true. I’m tired of playing alone in my head.”

“In our mind, everything is perfect, reality has its way of disappointing.” 

“Reality has its way of making us face what we feel.”

“You shouldn’t stand so close.”

“Then you should take a step back.”

“I can feel your breath on my face and your heartbeat against my chest.”

“And?”

“Kiss me.”