the history of love

read it.

"maybe the first time you saw her you were ten. she was standing in the sun scratching her legs. or tracing letters in the dirt with a stick. her hair was being pulled. or she was pulling someone's hair. and a part of you was drawn to her, and a part of you resisted- wanting to ride off on your bicycle, kick a stone, remain uncomplicated. in the same breath you felt the strength of a man, and a self-pity that made you feel small and hurt. part of you thought: please don't look at me. if you don't, i can still turn away. and part of you thought: look at me."

nicole krauss, "the history of love"