Hillabees and Roses - "Journeys of Love Voices of the Heart" Excerpts

Journeys Of Love Voices of the Heart - Excerpts

Dear _________, I have circumnavigated this relationship so many times that my head is reeling from the circles I’ve traveled. You’ve been my muse for so many years that I have forgotten the feeling of being uninspired, but these days it suits me like the color blue. This feeling is lonely, like a boat with no wind to sail. I need your help to fix it, but neither of us speaks the language of invention or sudden miracles. We barely understand the universal dialect of truth. I’ve jumbled those words; created my own vernacular that works for me, but it becomes inaudible for two.

“Love Letter For Dummies” by Megan Gates

I always thought that I would find true love. As a child, I would draw pictures of Cinderella in her carriage accompanied by the fine and handsome prince that fell in love with her. I dreamed of my wedding day and of him staring into my eyes and speaking words of love, fidelity, and our future together.

“True Love” by Kati Smith

I listen to my son babble in the bathtub as I’m putting clothes away in the closet. He’s swatting at the bubbles and giggling to himself. I don’t know what he’s trying to say. He’s non verbal. That’s what the “official” report says. The report also states, “Jacob is a physically healthy, non-verbal, seven-year-old autistic child.” It looks so sterile written like that. It looks like it’s just a passing blip. They can’t know how much I long to hear him say something, anything. At this point, I’d settle for him even cursing me out. In all his years, I’ve never heard him spontaneously say to me, “I love you”. I’ve never heard him say what a good mom he thinks I am. I’ve never heard him ask for candy or mumble rude things under his breath because I wouldn’t give it to him.

“Bubble” by Lorena Smith

I was seventeen and I’d never been kissed. All of my friends on the other hand, bragged about having boyfriends who showered them with beautiful jewelry and other expensive gifts. Although I hated to admit it, I was jealous because I believed I’d never find anyone to love me.

“Prom Night” by Stephanie Nolasco

When my Aunt Ruby died several years ago, I was stuck with her furniture. I can’t tell you why, it just happened. After a long, fruitless battle with breast cancer, which ravaged her once luscious curves and ended her life; all that remained was her furniture. She didn’t just die…she faded away. She breathed slowly then drifted off on a wave of painkilling morphine. We all sat around the bed, not quite realizing that it was over.

“Dead King Furniture” by Landis Lane

There is something in you that manages to bring out the submissive woman in me. You bring out the other woman, the one who has an unknown face and an unknown voice that even I don’t recognize. Gone are the days of speaking up, not backing down, or holding my ground. Tomorrow sees me holding my tongue instead.

“Silenced” by Oamshri Amarasingham

The key to happiness is identifying the deal-breakers and walking away before they have a chance to break you. Three years later, I’ve gotten myself back together and I won’t be broken again.

“Back Together” by Whitney Friedrich

I learned that part of being in love meant more than feeling something warm and special inside. I learned that love comes with pain, arguments, sacrifices, tears, joy, lust, respect, understanding, tolerance and a ton of other things in between.

“Love Journey” by Hillary Roy

My body started to dissolve, the serious tone in my voice started to fade and the toughness of my facial expressions began to soften. In that moment, I let down my guard and became transparent. After dinner, we kissed and the surge of electricity caused my heart to melt and my walls to break down. In that moment, the dam of hurt, pride, racial differences, self-denial and self-erected defenses gave way to the acknowledgement of an unexpected love.

“Unexpected Love” by Dorothy Brooks