this is for my girls, they show up. when it's inconvenient. when they're tired. when traffic sucks. they show up with wet hair, no shoes, and needing to borrow clothes. they show up to talk but also to sit in silence -- & always with an infinite promise of deep, belly cramping laughter. in a society that has taken self-care and boundaries to a dangerously isolating level....they remain persistent in their presence. constant. over and over again. they send flowers for family loss & breakups, they cheer on your hobbies & join them too. they steer you away from mistakes but stay ready to be silly alongside you. they cry when you share childhood pains and hold tightly when fear and anxiety grip you. they sing loud in the car and talk even louder at restaurants. and yet i want them everywhere. they listen to what you are learning and unlearning. they keep you accountable to your goals and yell at you to get off the couch and GO. they choose you. in all you have become. even when we are all so wildly and wondrously different. time with them feels like a collective sigh. an ease of being myself without necessarily having to be anything at all. thank you for this weekend. this friendship. this home shared between different bodies. i love y'all.