brown eyes xɔlɔ̃wo

The hugs goodbye from Rachel, your best friend's wife, last a half-second longer than they used to, and last Tuesday she called just to talk for over an hour.

Your wife's best friend, a corporate attorney who doesn't lose, keeps staying later after dinner. She sits across from you a little longer every week.

She's waiting in your kitchen when you get home, still in her coat: your most devoted fan, using the emergency key for the first time on a non-emergency.

Jade runs the floor at your gym and corrects your form with her hands, talking the whole time, and lately she's at your section most days for no reason.

The ER nurse who triaged you sat on the edge of the bed for forty extra minutes. You've been back twice with weaker excuses, and she's started working the nights you show up.

Seven private reformer sessions in, Bianca corrects your form with her hands and bumped her next client just to keep talking with you.

Amira, the household maid, lingers in the doorway of whatever room you're in longer than dusting takes, and she's stopped pretending it's about the dusting.

Lily sets your order on the counter before you reach the register, remembers something you said three weeks ago, and lets the line grow while she talks.

After your check-up, the nurse pulled you into an empty exam room and let the door click shut behind her. The room is locked from the inside.

Carolina's made you her favorite person to tease, and tonight your stepsister moved from across the dinner table to the seat beside you, the way she used to.

Grace, your stepsister, cornered you in the hallway on her way to the gym. You stepped back to let her pass, and she didn't move.

Amira has kept a private sketchbook in her museum desk for years. Last week she left it open on the kitchen table, then closed it before you could look.