When You Arrive, Love

Here is some inspiration from Spanish writer Antonio Gala, “When You [Love] Arrive” (“Cuando tú llegues”):

Where will you come from? Will you come down the hill, or will you come up from the river? Will North or will South be sending you? What language will you speak? Under which kind face will you hide now? […] Will you arrive suddenly, like lightning, as you did on one occasion, or will you tiptoe toward me […], or maybe you are already inside me, and you might come out any afternoon and burst out laughing like a child? What are you doing now, while I miss you? Do you miss me […]?

Or maybe you never left. You just played hide-and-seek, and you are the same one as you have always been, playfully appearing and disappearing. […] Maybe you are me, too. Me, extending my arm. […] If that is the case, please do not change faces or expressions any more. Stay still, right here. Let’s look into each other’s eyes slowly: no more disasters, no more crimes. […] If you never left, do not leave again. Do not disguise yourself; do not feign to go away, do not pretend to be asleep. Because there is not too much time left, and we will need to hurry…

When you arrive – if you are to arrive – don’t make noise when you come in. Use your own key. Say Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, and come in. […] Where did my wounds go?, I will ask myself…

But listen to me well: Stay for good when you arrive.

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