steep nom it was steep i held on 060103 ... tender_square “hmmm.” she had a habit of doing this, whenever something caught her attention, she vocalized it. “the flap on my tea box says, ‘what is acquired without labor is seldom worth acquiring at all.’” he stood at the counter, sipped his coffee. “i don’t agree with that.” she was just making an observation, not inviting a debate. she took a deep breath, prepared herself for a lecture on his ideals. “relationships and friendships aren’t work,” he argued. “to a degree,” she offered. “relationships still require effort to make them worthwhile. is effort not a form a labor?” she set the timer on the microwave for her cup to steep. “you don’t need to make an effort when you’re with the right person,” he clarified, settling the matter. she turned and left the room at this, curious if he believed that all was right between them, that after seven years they could continue coasting on autopilot, hands-free. she closed the door to the bathroom. “if this is effort,” she thought, “it isn’t enough,” squeezing her brown eyes like sodden tea bags wringing water. 211209 what's it to you? who go blather from