Ampersand

I find it a little funny that the extraordinarily long messages we used to write each other- those used to be called letters, right? But, now they're digital. And they're now void of some actual letters, because- Acronyms. The evolution of mental laziness. Excuses to make less effort to connect. But we always put in plenty of effort, because we're characters that like ...our characters (that's what they're called now) Your favorite is the ampersand. "&" I think when I asked you why you said it was Simply because it's beautiful. I never asked for more of an explanation, but I always had a theory in my heart. The ampersand represents connection, growth, and inclusiveness. Things we both strive to feel every day, despite the chemicals in our brains doing their best to fray the notion of any sort of addition. We are always, in some way or another feeling as if we've had enough. We fight that so hard. Especially you. I never told you. But those extraordinary letters. I printed some out. For safe keeping. I suppose I thought that I needed a backup in case of a power outage, or a hurricane. If I couldn't hear from you. I could read you. You have always been, since the moment I read you... the most inspiring light in the horizon. Even now as my broken wrist tries it's best to accept that the best thing for my mental health is to endure the pain and shake up a butane flame. Setting our characters free back into the digital dream, where we met. I cannot. I will not let go. Of everything else, maybe. Maybe. Myself. But Never You. & I -James Kelley 2017