consider the sperm whale and the squid. an ancient rivalry that dates back millions of years. we know the whales eat the squids. we know the squids do not make it easy for them. we know this because of the scars the whales carry, scars on the outside of their body, and on the inside as well. how badly must you want something to endure wounds inside your mouth? inside your gut?
consider the whale, who is harmed by what sustains her. consider the squid, whose flesh is soft and delicious but refuses to go down easy.
i love you people still wearing face masks i love you people wearing them for strangers i love you people wearing them for themselves i love you people wearing them for family members i love you people wearing them for friends and coworkers i love you people wearing them despite it no longer being mandated i love you people wearing masks
i want to be inconvenienced by you. i want to wait for you, i want to hold your things while you do something else, i want to make adjustments to my plans to make space for you.
someone at your side who takes up no space and has no needs of their own is not a person, but a shadow.
i don't want a shadow, i want you. i want my life to be altered by your presence in it. please, inconvenience me.