I’m a chronic lover girl but this was written so beautifully it has me considering the possibilities of impermanent attachments. “You weren’t mine to keep but you’re mine to remember” Shakespeare is rolling in his grave wishing he wrote this.
I call these ones - my lovers. Not exes, not situationships or people I’ve “dated”. Just lovers, especially the perfectly cinematic, foreign, burst-of-flame affairs that you’ve so beautifully described. This makes me miss those chapters..
I shed a few tears reading this the same way I shed tears when I read Annie Ernaux, a habit I tend to have after every so called romance, short, long, sweet or bitter-sweet, they all consume me and I love putting gasoline on my sadness. I am in the middle of another one, I think, I'm not even sure... but for this night your piece was my gasoline.
CHILLS. DEVOURED THIS. VALERIE YOU AMAZE ME!!!!!!!!!! i want more !!!! "arching my back like I’ve got OnlyFans due in the morning" was a banger line ...
"you were never mine to keep but you're mine to remember" oouu I shivered. a secret third thing one of the greatest loves of all that you can never truly speak about but you both telepathically knew. you made something so fleeting also reassuring I love this.
absolutely LOVE THIS PIECE!!! i feel so seen - so captured - these short magical love affairs are my preferred drug of choice and i can’t get enough!!!! it makes life so special, thank u for writing thisss
oh this is incredible. as a lovergirl who is not currently in the headspace for a full-fledged relationship, a lot of what you've written reallyyyyy resonates with me. you've perfectly described the way i feel about these deep & caring yet often fleeting connections between people (without labels or a future mapped out). thank you <3
I’m a chronic lover girl but this was written so beautifully it has me considering the possibilities of impermanent attachments. “You weren’t mine to keep but you’re mine to remember” Shakespeare is rolling in his grave wishing he wrote this.
God witty men. always a do I want them or do I want to BE them…slash do I want to EAT them until the last morsel situation
SO TRUE
I call these ones - my lovers. Not exes, not situationships or people I’ve “dated”. Just lovers, especially the perfectly cinematic, foreign, burst-of-flame affairs that you’ve so beautifully described. This makes me miss those chapters..
exactly! lovers! no further elaboration 😌🧘♀️❤️
Ok, I'm obsessed with this essay. This was SOOOOO good!!!! Girl, thanks
helena!!! merci ❤️❤️
Also Valerie have you done a favorite novels list? I would lovee to hear your recommendations!!
will do!!
valerie, this is one of my favorites writing posts on substack. thank you so much. will come back every month
Natalia ❤️😭😭😭 thank you so much
I shed a few tears reading this the same way I shed tears when I read Annie Ernaux, a habit I tend to have after every so called romance, short, long, sweet or bitter-sweet, they all consume me and I love putting gasoline on my sadness. I am in the middle of another one, I think, I'm not even sure... but for this night your piece was my gasoline.
Annie Ernaux is my favorite author and this post was partially inspired by Simple Passion! you and i are so on the same page it’s crazy 🤍🥹 thank you
Ahaha, I thought about a Simple Passion and Getting Lost while reading this :))
CHILLS. DEVOURED THIS. VALERIE YOU AMAZE ME!!!!!!!!!! i want more !!!! "arching my back like I’ve got OnlyFans due in the morning" was a banger line ...
angelinaaaaaaaa this means everything & more to me
Gorge, I’ve never had a serious relationship or even situationship, I have brief little somethings that are never meant to go anywhere so I loved this
"you were never mine to keep but you're mine to remember" oouu I shivered. a secret third thing one of the greatest loves of all that you can never truly speak about but you both telepathically knew. you made something so fleeting also reassuring I love this.
You made me mischievously smile in remembrance…
I’ve been the one with the weird bright pink suitcase choice picked up from the airport by a witty man I can’t get enough of…
Such a sexy, deep, fun piece to read.
this made me yearrrrrnnn!! beautifully written!!!
This is so beautiful
absolutely LOVE THIS PIECE!!! i feel so seen - so captured - these short magical love affairs are my preferred drug of choice and i can’t get enough!!!! it makes life so special, thank u for writing thisss
thank you so much ella 🤍🤍🤍
oh this is incredible. as a lovergirl who is not currently in the headspace for a full-fledged relationship, a lot of what you've written reallyyyyy resonates with me. you've perfectly described the way i feel about these deep & caring yet often fleeting connections between people (without labels or a future mapped out). thank you <3
I love this