I knew if I ate anything of hers again, it would lkely tell me the same message: help me, I am not happy, help me -- like a message in a bottle sent in each meal to the eater, and I got it. I got the message.

I didn’t mind the quiet stretches. It was like we were trying out the idea of being side by side.

I was with them for all of it, but more like an echo than a participant.

But the sky is interesting, it changes all the time.

My eyelids are my own private cave, he murmured. That I can go to anytime I want.

Mom flipped through the magazines like the pages needed to be slapped.

I want to be violated by insight.