love, home, and other four-letter words

by now,

someone must have told you

that love is not a person

and they were right

love is many people

as many people as you can fit in your heart,

actually.

love is every person you’ve smiled at,

even the ones that didn’t smile back.

especially those ones.

love is each lingering glance, each fingertip graze, each held open door, each half muttered “thanks”

love is the moment you start recognizing someone’s face as you move from strangers to more

love is when i get you coffee on my way back.

by now,

someone must have told you

that home is not a person

and they were right

home is anything that made you feel safe

your local haunt, your favorite library

your booth at the cafe

your grandma’s dinner table, or

your third grade math class

home is your lover pulling you close, deep in slumber, holding you for the sake of pure comfort

home is your second language.

home is the way she crinkles her nose after your jokes

and his quiet, nervous laughter

home is when you get me coffee on your way back.

~mj