Sigrid Nunez, The Vulnerables
95 notes
·
View notes
Intimacy is often misunderstood as necessarily involving acceptance, validation, and reciprocity from one's partner because that's what many people want if they're going to disclose important personal information. But intimacy is not the same as closeness, bonding, or caretaking (all of which bring comfort by emphasizing togetherness, continuity, and shared history.) Intimacy is an 'I-Thou' experience. It involves the inherent awkwardness that you're separate from your partner, but the parts yet to be shared.
David Schnarch, Passionate Marriage.
0 notes
i know people are good because of this: the universe often assigns me side quests. in a circular strangeness; despite my inability to locate my-own-anything, i am almost-always finding someone else's lost things. dogs, coats, phones, cash, laptops. it happens so often it's almost tiring; suddenly being looped into a tiny amount of detective work.
but when i'm with other people who are not used to this: the response is almost invariably delight. yes, maybe they are simply thrilled by the mystery. it's just... they light up so much. i think maybe more... i think they like the opportunity to do something kind.
a few weeks ago, i was at a bar and i found a wallet as soon as we stepped outside. i felt nervous to ask for help, worried i would be holding up the night. i picked it up and said go on without me, i should help this get back to its home.
instead, three people pulled out their phones - to find him on facebook, to help cancel his credit cards. two people went back into the bar to tell the bartender, two others went calling down the street. group texts, facebook posts, instagram stories. people, without even seeing what happened, start offering help to me. fifteen minutes and: someone knows someone who knows the guy. the cheer that went up - just for finding him, just for this small thing. someone gets him on the phone. strangers dance around me, hopping on their feet - are you the girl that found that wallet? good for you, that's a good thing you're doing/same thing happened to me and somebody did what you're doing and i thank god everyday for people like you/i can't believe you found him so fast this is so exciting
i gave it back to him in a parking lot. i watched his shoulders sag with relief. there was cash in it still - he checked the pocket, and then sheepishly held the money out to me. i didn't take it. i held up my hands. "it's no problem, man. i know you'd do the same for me."
i don't know him, to be honest. i don't know if he is the same kind of person i am. but he nodded at me.
and i know people are good. i know people are good, because the way this story ends isn't surprising. we wave goodbye awkwardly. my friend loops their arm around me.
"i can't believe we got it back to him," they said. "i'm going to be riding that high for weeks."
23K notes
·
View notes
the meleven kiss: happens for barely a second
me: nO NO NO NO. NO SHIT FUCK.DAMMIT n FUCK NO
0 notes
Imagine little Turtle Tot Leo practicing his best Lou Jitsu grin in the mirror during the nights he can’t sleep. He’s gotta be just like his idol, after all! So he masters the art of the cocky grin, slowly perfecting his imitation.
Eventually that confident grin becomes his default one, and the quiet, happy smile that he’s born with, the one that he first greets his father with, that one is the rarity.
Until the invasion happens. Until he throws himself into the Prison Dimension. Until he’s beaten within an inch of his life and he’s holding onto his last remnant of his family through sheer willpower alone.
In that moment, looking at the photo of the ones he loves, that quiet smile comes back.
978 notes
·
View notes