281: Why Do You Write?

She comes to me while I stand on the balcony. The city lies beneath me, a map of lighted roads and chasing cars. The night is too alive to see the stars. The moon is a streak against purple.

I twirl the pen between my fingers.

"Why do you write?" she asks.

I look at her from the corner of my eye.

She is looking back.

I turn back to the city. "I am in love," I say. "I am in love with life."

"Perhaps." She pauses. "But that is not it."

"I write to bring others joy."

"Sure. But that is not it."

"I write because I am lonely."

"Yes. But that is not it."

"I write to create."

"You do ... But that is not it."

"..."

"..."

"I write to find my way home."

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Written by: Katrine Hjulstad

Instagram: @katrinehjulstad

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Publisher's note: All poetry published with Eudaemonia Records has been viewed and commented on by our editors. Ultimately, however, we believe that it is the writer's decision to accept or reject any suggestions made by the editors, and therefore take no responsibility for the final product.