When Love Arrives by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye
I knew exactly what love looked like ā in seventh grade
Even though I hadnāt met love yet, if love had wandered into my homeroom, I wouldāve recognized him at first glance. Love wore a hemp necklace.Ā I wouldāve recognized her at first glance, love wore a tight french braid.Ā Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite Beatles songs. Love wasnāt afraid to ride the bus with me.Ā And I knew, I just must be searching the wrong classrooms, just must be checking the wrong hallways, she was there, I was sure of it.Ā If only I could find him.
But when love finally showed up, she had a bow cut.Ā He wore the same clothes every day for a week. Love hated the bus.Ā Love didnāt know anything about The Beatles.Ā Instead, every time I try to kiss love, our teeth got in the way. Love became the reason I lied to my parents. Iām going to- Benās house.Ā Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor, but made sure we never missed a slow song.Ā Love waited by the phone because she knew if her father picked up it would be: āHello? Hello? I guess they hung up.ā
And love grew, stretched like a trampoline.Ā Love changed. Love disappeared,Ā Slowly, like baby teeth, losing parts of me I thought I needed.Ā Love vanished like an amateur magician, and everyone could see the trapdoor but me.Ā Like a flat tire, there were other places I planned on going, but my plans didnāt matter.Ā Love stayed away for years, and when love finally reappeared, I barely recognized him.Ā Love smelt different now, had darker eyes, a broader back, love came with freckles I didnāt recognize.Ā New birthmarks, a softer voice.Ā Now there were new sleeping patterns, new favorite books.Ā Love had songs that reminded him of someone else, songs love didnāt like to listen to. So did I.
But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly We found jokes that make us laugh.Ā And now, love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies.Ā But love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack.Ā Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer.Ā Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator.Ā Love knows where sheās going, it just might take her two hours longer than she planned.Ā Love is messier now, not as simple.Ā Love uses the words āboobsā in front of my parents.Ā Love chews too loud.Ā Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste.Ā Love uses smiley faces in her text messages.Ā And turns out, love shits!
But love also cries.Ā And love will tell you you are beautiful and mean it, over and over again. āYou are beautiful.ā When you first wake up, āyou are beautiful.āĀ When youāve just been crying, āyou are beautiful.āĀ When you donāt want to hear it, āyou are beautiful.āĀ When you donāt believe it, āyou are beautiful.āĀ When nobody else will tell you, āyou are beautiful.āĀ Love still thinks you are beautiful.Ā But love is not perfect and will sometimes forget, when you need to hear it most, you are beautiful, do not forget this.
Love is not who you were expecting, love is not who you can predict.Ā Maybe love is in New York City, already asleep; You are in California, Australia, wide awake.Ā Maybe love is always in the wrong time zone. Maybe love is not ready for you.Ā Maybe you are not ready for love.Ā Maybe love just isnāt the marrying type.Ā Maybe the next time you see love is twenty years after the divorce, love is older now, but just as beautiful as you remembered.Ā Maybe love is only there for a month.Ā Maybe love is there for every firework, every birthday party, every hospital visit.Ā Maybe love stays- maybe love canāt.Ā Maybe love shouldnāt.
Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to,Ā And love leaves exactly when love must.Ā When love arrives, say, āWelcome. Make yourself comfortable.ā If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her.Ā Turn off the music, listen to the quiet, whisper,Ā āThank you for stopping by.ā



















