Prompt: 4 words, 4 sentences, for a total of 16 sentences (guilt, joy, fear, love)

I feel guilty, because I didn’t grow up fast enough. I could blame that on anyone and thing, but myself — but why? Looking into your eyes, you weren’t crying anymore, and I felt guilty, because I don’t like goodbyes. Even though I’d come to terms with endings — so I thought — but I guess I was wrong.

Smiles escape him, usually. However, joy is a state of being that exists in the mind and heart — and face, every time his daughter smiles that bright smile — and his son, too — but it’s his voice. Innocence — joy — at its essence, is bliss. His squad.

“Fear is made up — that’s what they say, yes? Tell that to the man in this article, why don’t ya? Was on a safari, attempting to poach some kittens from mama lion. And all I can think is, I don’t think that a gun works inside of a lion’s mouth.”

Love today enough so that you love the thought of tomorrow. Love love because, what the fuck else are you going to do — hate hate? Love is enjoying an amazing meal, having a bite left, holding the fork to her lips, and then swooping into eat your food. Hell, she’ll understand — if she loves you.

— 1996