The moment she realized it – a small lifetime had already happened. It wasn’t what she thought or had imagined, but it’s what was always expected to be. It was always the way it was supposed to be. It wasn’t a sense of loss or moment of astute clarity like she had thought. It was quiet, silent, and a passing moment. It is the type of moment she knows she will eventually tell her own child will happen to them, but it is the unknowing and drawn out nature of it that sticks with a person and still can make their heartache. It came from her living, loving, and moving on. When her world has changed and no longer aligns with her past life. It is the nostalgia and “what if” that made it the cycle of not wanting to let go. She didn’t feel upset or angry because those feelings had consumed her for so long. It was the plain normalcy of sitting on a bench and seeing how unalike the two souls were that did it for her. It wasn’t a specific second or thing that was said – it was her looking at it from the lenses that she deeply was trying to put on for years, but never had the heart to do. It took a couple hours to get over the decade of time gone by. And so it passed.

A prudent man should neglect no circumstances

“Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your own heart and intuition.”

If I were to kiss you then go to hell, I would. So then I can brag with the devils I saw heaven without ever entering it.

A chef's manifest for two weeks cruising

“I have always loved a window, especially an open one.”

Anna Ileby, (Swedish, b.1984)"The Journey," n.d.Acrylic, ink on paper