Here’s the thing I fear, my dear.

THE THING I FEAR BY KATE BUCKLEY 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 10

Here’s the thing I fear, my dear: I’ve lost myself

completely. Cast as I am on the sea

of your charms, lost as I am in the wake

of your arms. Sunk in sad contemplation

when electronics malfunction and I’m left

without the sound of your voice, and little

choice or compunction to do anything

other than breathe. And even that isn’t

easy these days—enlarged as my heart’s become,

pressing down on my lungs. Even my ribs

resound at the sound of your name or the

delicate etch of your electronic texts:

You confound me. (And this isn’t just sex.)

Here’s the thing I fear, my dear: I’m in love.

KATE BUCKLEY