As a single woman, I am often asked about love. 

People ask whether or not I am ever going to have children (the answer: No), 

why am I single, and, why have I never been married?

Most of the time I am okay answering these questions, 

I know myself well enough to answer them honestly, 

but sometimes I want to turn the questions around and ask people: why are you married?

What makes your heart come alive, really come alive? 

What makes your heart break wide-fucking-open?

How often do you feel that fall-to-the-ground, this-world-is-so-beautiful kind of love? 

Most people would not want, or know how, to answer such questions. 

I live inside these questions most days of my life.

Patricia Dowd