Once

There was a fence and a gate
The gate loved the fence, he gave her meaning, and a reason
The fence loved the gate, she softened his hard edges, and opened him up to the passage of the world
Time passed
Boundaries became redundant
The fence fell into disrepair and then eventually fell apart and disappeared
Only the gate remained
I asked the gate why she stayed
Love, she said. We stood here together. Where else could I go?