We know story collections end when they end, as well - the pages serving as a countdown - but nevertheless the standard story anthology hews closer to what makes being human so hard: it reminds you with each story how quickly everything we are, everything we call our lives can change, can be upended, can disappear. Never to return.

You said i could call you when i wanted but that you wouldn’t call me. you have to decide where and when, you said. if you leave it up to me i’ll want to see you every day. At least you were honest, which is more than i can say for me.

You eventually erase her contact info from your phone but not the pictures you took of her in bed while she was naked and asleep, never those.

I think that distance is good for some people for certain projects. I mean this is sort of a dynamic question. Some projects require more distance than others, some don't require it at all. Sometimes you need it and sometimes you don't.

If we do not begin to practice the muscles of having a possessive investment in each other's oppressions, then we are in some serious trouble.

For a long time, I let my mother say what she wanted about me, and what was worse, for a long time I believed her.

She had reason to doubt him; he was real good at planning but real bad at doing.