Once, When We Were Young

“See? There’s no way this isn’t fun.”

Even as his teasing left me flushed, my gaze kept drifting to the corners of his mouth. Of late they curved into a smile far more readily than they used to.

Was he always someone who smiled this readily?

Just as he’d claimed, he truly did look to be enjoying himself.

I hate to admit it, but I think I’ve been much the same of late.

And no wonder. Living as ‘Gloria,’ there were moments when I took a real pleasure in doing the things I’d never once been free to do before....