and the day came,
when the risk it took
to remain tight in the bud
was more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom.
~Anais Nin
***
"Favorite color?"
Atlas thinks before answering, "Black."
I shake my head, "Black isn't a color."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not."
"You paint using black all the time, and you're telling me it's not a color?"
I shake with laughter as he smiles back at me. "Favorite color. Go."
I stare into his dark blue eyes as I answer, "white."
He throws his head back and laughs. "How perfect."