Old at Twenty-Four
I go with Charlie to AA because I’m trying to be a good friend. But if I’m going to be honest with myself, I’m also chasing an idea of the two of us. That we can reclaim what was lost four years ago. When we were so young and ignorant. *** He gave me a […]
The House On The Hill
My mind’s distracted and diffused,
My thoughts are many miles away,
They lie with you when you’re asleep,
And kiss you when you start your day. — Simon and Garfunkel
Food Is Where The Heart Is
For my great-grandmother: Even when things change, memories remain
On The Corner Of Bellview
His hand rests on her upper thigh. Not in a sexually suggestive way. In a sweet way. In a way that says, I just want to be close to you right now. ***It’s been six months. Half a year. Twenty four weeks. Six months, half a year, and twenty four weeks since he stopped touching […]
April Come She Will
the dimming of the world dissipates. brightness flourishes longer. sounds are sweeter. *** at 16 i’m at a park in flip flops, embracing the gentle breeze on my face, and the dry pavement nestled underneath my toes. i sit on a swing, clutching its chains, ready to go higher and higher and higher. i tug […]
One Long Day
Saturday, 10 am Jen Jen wakes up abruptly. She desperately grabs her pristine, white sheets, pulling them over her head. March mornings in New England do not suit her. She falls back to sleep, earnestly; not yet registering the brand new day outside, not yet registering the events of the day prior. *** Jen slowly […]
The Flood
Did you hear about Jake’s cabin? It flooded from that storm a few day’s ago. The foundation is probably destroyed. His cabin? Yep. It really flooded? I wasn’t sure if I was hearing him correctly. Yep. The cabin? Yep. Oh. I step outside with my cigarette, needing to smoke, trying to process the news. Jake’s […]
At a Crossroads
I can never be in a healthy relationship. For my mom to basically up and leave us when I was a kid, bumming around in my pajamas on Saturdays watching Nickelodeon and kicking the ball around with Tommy around the corner…that’s just like…I don’t know. It sucks. Luke takes a sip of his Guinness before […]
Passwords And Hard Drives
And how can I assist you today? Another few hours devoted to apple tech support. I cushion my desk chair, embracing the discussion ahead. It’s not exactly how envision this particular Wednesday afternoon, but my (fairly new) laptop, Millie, is acting strange. She needs the attention. My keyboard is playing mind games— keys that have […]
The Dynamic Decade That Is Your 20’s
In my 26th year, it’s hard not to note how the 20’s — this ever-in-influx, ‘emerging adulthood,’ decade — is pretty dynamic in all sorts of ways. I do not wish to preach, and I’m certainly not interested in doling out ‘this-is-what-you-have-to-do’ advice. However, I just thought I’d share insights I’ve picked up along the […]