After The Movie

My friend Michael and I are walking home arguing about the movie.

He says that he believe a person can love someone
And still be able to murder that person.

I say, No, that’s not love. That’s attachment.
Michael says, No, that’s love. You can love someone, then come to a day

when you’re forced to think “it’s him or me”
think “me” and kill him.

I say, Then it’s not love anymore.
Michael says, It was love up to then though.

—Marie Howe, from “After the Movie,” THE KINGDOM OF ORDINARY TIME