Before we notice our heart beat quicken,
our chest tighten, our temperature rise.
Before we hear ourselves say something stupid
while trying to be cool.

Before we feel our mood shift
at the briefest contact.
Before our cheeks flush.

The moment when we first feel ourselves falling
falling…falling…
fallen.

We should have caught ourselves long before.
Should have,
but by then it’s too late.

If only we noticed the signs
before they became signs.
It would be so much easier.

And yet,
would you give up those few moments
of falling
when being caught was possible?

I wouldn’t.