Search

Search

A complex story deserves a complex story

• Out of Tampons
  Out of tampons10/31/2020 I think you know it might not be worth it. When blood is pooling on your last padas you do the dishesdoubled over cramped,blood dripping down your… Read more: Out of Tampons
• 30,000 steps a day
  I’m worried about you you need to maybe go to therapyThe dog walk is my therapyOk. Go on a dog walk 1 hour2 hours3 hours “Where’s daddy? Call him. I’m… Read more: 30,000 steps a day
• I’m on my way home
  Sometimes when I stopped home in the middle of the day, I’d call my husband to let him know I was running in to get whatever I forgot. I think… Read more: I’m on my way home
• That was easy.
  I had had enough. I decided to drive to Heather’s house one evening – way early to pick up my daughter, with just enough time for a chat. “I guess… Read more: That was easy.
• Georgia On My Mind
  March, 2020 In Georgia there was a hot tub and 2 fireplaces. In Georgia there was a hike to a waterfall. In Georgia I thought we were a family. In… Read more: Georgia On My Mind
• Facetime
  I was at the dining room table, that I remember. FaceTime rang, and I answered. It was Heather. She looked confused. She hung up. She FaceTimed again, and maybe a… Read more: Facetime
• Remember Easter?
  Do you remember Easter time, a few years ago? When they found a suspicious nodule in my thyroid, and for a few weeks, the worry of cancer was passed around… Read more: Remember Easter?
• Too Big
  In high school, I wrote about him for an English assignment. After years of being bullied, and called out for being fat, I was somehow able to believe him when… Read more: Too Big
• The Fence
  When I take the dog for a walk, I almost always pass the fenced off dry stream down the street. I hardly ever used to notice it. But now I… Read more: The Fence
• Where did you learn that from?
  My memory is fuzzy – way too fuzzy. Like, what happened when? At some point in the last few years, I started joking, “Where did you learn that from?” every… Read more: Where did you learn that from?
• Red-Flag Shoes
  Wingtip “I would be livid if some other woman sent my husband a gift like that.” That’s what my friends said, when I mentioned to any of them that Heather… Read more: Red-Flag Shoes
• Frozen
  January 2020 December was rough. But I was trying to understand your friendship with Heather. I was trying to build a friendship as well. So, I agreed when she invited… Read more: Frozen
• The Wrong Band
  February 2020. It must have been February because it was before the world shut down. I parked in my kids’ school parking lot and listened to Tori Amos sing The… Read more: The Wrong Band
• My Couch
  I need to tell you that I love my couch. It’s a huge sectional, deep red, covered with colorful blankets my mom crocheted. When we were dating, my husband drew… Read more: My Couch
• Heather’s Couch
  Early, 2020 Heather wanted my boys to watch The Mandalorian at her place. We didn’t have Disney +, and she thought it would be fun to have the families get… Read more: Heather’s Couch
• Damnit
  I had to drive by the back of the mall today on my way to get my new driver’s license. The back of the mall is where I told Heather… Read more: Damnit
• I know how the story ends
  It was a cold winter night where we walked, and walked, and you cried. I remember your face, the piece of tissue I handed you. You didn’t want to tell… Read more: I know how the story ends
• Galentine’s Day
  February 2020 February 2020 was the last time I thought I had a Valentine. That weekend, I traveled with friends to a conference in Atlantic City, laughing that my husband… Read more: Galentine’s Day
• The Day Therapy Ended
  I listened to you as you told me about your year-long affair with Heather. I believed you when you said you were sorry, that I was the only one for… Read more: The Day Therapy Ended
• You can have your husband back soon.
  During the spring, summer and fall of 2020, my husband was doing a lot of free work for Heather’s company. He was making videos for a fundraiser, helping to create… Read more: You can have your husband back soon.
• The Ocean
  1994ish I’ve always loved the ocean. One summer, I must have been 16, we had a family trip to the beach. Somehow I was allowed to drive about an hour… Read more: The Ocean
• Coffee Maker
  I scroll through pictures you’ve texted me, hoping to find something that can spark writing about the betrayal. Instead, I find the other side of the betrayal. Betrayal doesn’t hurt… Read more: Coffee Maker
• Really real?
  Sometimes things don’t feel like they could possibly be real. Did Heather really invite my husband over, promising him that their mutual friend, Kitty “loved him? Did he race over… Read more: Really real?
• Leggings in my Laundry
  I found Heather’s leggings in a basket of random laundry the other day. I remember when she brought them over to you in a little bag. Slipped the bag on… Read more: Leggings in my Laundry
• Sliver
  I have a brilliant friendwho says to me, “Someday we will sit down with a drink and tissues you can tell me all the good things about him.” She says,… Read more: Sliver
• A voicemail from July
  Summer 2020 There’s a voicemail from July. I still have it on my phone. “It’s 8:06 PM. I stopped at Dunkin… so, it made me a little late. I’ll be… Read more: A voicemail from July
• Porch Chats
  July 2020 I had some sort of cold in July. My daughter had outside evening rehearsals, and my husband always volunteered to go pick her up. He’d leave me with… Read more: Porch Chats
• Porch Coffee
  It’s 2020 My friend died this June. Every morning, I drink my coffee on the porch and I look for her in the bunnies, birds, and rainbows. Gary* made the… Read more: Porch Coffee
• Photo Booth
  Three pictures in a row We both look at the camera, smileYou kiss my cheekI kiss yours Your hand is on my chinThe curtain behind us is redOur hair flows… Read more: Photo Booth
• The Gold Standard
  It was pajama day on Wednesday, and I joked that my regular clothes were pretty close to pajamas anyway. “My real pajamas are torn yoga pants I used to wear… Read more: The Gold Standard
• Where’s my t-shirt?
  Where’s my T-shirt? It would say:“I survived counseling my ex through his recent breakupas he talked about ‘finally understanding betrayal’”as if 4 months could compare to 30 years Where’s my… Read more: Where’s my t-shirt?
• eye crinkle
  You’re on my porch You’ve forgotten who I am(or was) It was my mistaketo let you on my porchI forgot who you are I forget who you were I close… Read more: eye crinkle
• Fatherhood Red Flag
  In November of 2020, Heather decided to get a divorce. Things just weren’t “working out in her marriage.” I didn’t know at the time that the long range plan was… Read more: Fatherhood Red Flag
• A Rainbow Bra
  When I was 16 I had a rainbow bra.It was Lacy. A lacy rainbow bra. Sounds tackyracymaybe it was. But it was also sexy and fun and I loved it.… Read more: A Rainbow Bra
• 5 AM
  You’re an asshole. But I still woke up at 5 AMmissing the nook of your armthe scar on your thumbyour warm foot across the bed It’s nice to remember when… Read more: 5 AM
• Confessions
  I confess, I got so mad listening to my husband of two decades profess his love for his mistress for days and weeks… that one day, I tried to claw… Read more: Confessions
• Impact
  You’re movingAcross the country In the movie version of this story, I think I’d proclaim, “I may have lost my husband, but you lost your whole town!” But it’s real… Read more: Impact
• 31 years
  31 years is a lot of years to regret –it was more fun when I got to celebrateknowing you so long. Strange how I used to feel luckyand now I… Read more: 31 years
• UNWRITABLE
  This is unwritableSeeing him with herwalkingsmilingdrinkingherein my placein my placehere I start thinking about how my grandma always wanted to go dancing but my grandfather never would. Then my grandma… Read more: UNWRITABLE
• Deleted
  That’s smart how you deleted all the pictures of us from your FacebookI bet it felt goodNow you don’t have Memories that hit you in the face randomly — date… Read more: Deleted
• I Need a Tissue, and Other Mysterious Codes
  When we first fell in love, we used to have a code for “I love you.” You know, so our parents (okay, my parents) wouldn’t hear us (okay, me) on… Read more: I Need a Tissue, and Other Mysterious Codes
• 3×3 Post-it note
  I was cleaning out a drawer today and found a 3×3 post-it note I had written when I was so scared you were going to leave me. My heart broke… Read more: 3×3 Post-it note
• I wish I could sing
  I wish I could singNot because you can sing, love to sing, re-found yourself on stageRemember how you always used to try to harmonize with me and it would totally… Read more: I wish I could sing
• 1993
  You gave me this zebra cardMade a joke about “ze-bra”Said “Love Forever”I mean, I was almost 16, so of course I believed you It’s hard to let go, harder than… Read more: 1993
• 1997
  1997The last year we lived apartI mean, until this year – duhYou made me artArt. I pulled a picture you drew of me out of a box last night. I… Read more: 1997
• Alone Time
  I make vegan nachos—On the mini stone Pour myself a glass of wine I think I coveted this When my babies were babiesWhenWherever I was, others were there tooAt home,… Read more: Alone Time
• An Ironic Kiss in the Woods
  I just remembered that time I cheated on you. You know when I kissed Robin’s boyfriend in the woods? I told you. I know I told you. Didn’t I? Robin… Read more: An Ironic Kiss in the Woods
• How are you?
  I bump into my daughter’s old friend’s mom at WegmansShe asks meHow are you?How are the kids? How are you?How are the kids?An old friend asks me at a barWe… Read more: How are you?
• Thanksgiving Anger
  Maybe I can just chill out, I think. I mean, love is love. You ended up not loving me. You broke my heart but that doesn’t make you a villain.… Read more: Thanksgiving Anger
• Something to burn
  I grabbed a few sheets of paper from the basement to burn.I just really wanted something to burn. I had forgotten about that weird time you forced us to not… Read more: Something to burn
• Writing for Revenge
  My wordsfeed the wrong wolfthey aren’t kindI’m not on thehighroad I’m writing for revenge I use my storiesas a knifeor at least a finger flickto your chestflick flick flick flick… Read more: Writing for Revenge
• First Wife
  I didn’t want to be yourfirst wife practice wifeA life-long lovedisposed ofin a blur ofbetrayalI was unable tolabel until it was fatal Our texts used to befunny, HoneyNow they’re just… Read more: First Wife
• What’s best for the kids
  I guess I’m supposed to let it go. You betrayed all of us, had an intimate, year long affair with our children’s teacher, our daughter’s friend’s mom, our sons mentor’s… Read more: What’s best for the kids
• Bracelets on my mind
  As a kid, I made embroidery floss friendship bracelets, collected jelly bracelets, and bought sailor knot bracelets at the beach. Friendship bracelets wore down slowly, jelly bracelets grew exponentially, and… Read more: Bracelets on my mind
• You missed it
  You missed the best snow day ever. Your children were full of smiles, relaxing and building legos. Your youngest son made everyone hot cocoa. Your daughter and her boyfriend went… Read more: You missed it
• What would I say to you?
  If I had a magic phone, I’d call you —The you from beforeRemember him?He was kindand safeand good I’d say Hey. You’d say Hi Peach I’d tell you the end… Read more: What would I say to you?
• Pictures & Puzzles
  You used to draw me pictures all the time. Some of them were amazing portraits, or very detailed comics. Some were just silly jokes. They were on paper, cards, napkins,… Read more: Pictures & Puzzles
• Remember?
  Remember when the kids were little and they went to bed, like at a bed time? Sometimes you’d sneak out to the video store and get us a movie, stop… Read more: Remember?
• Asshole
  There was a time where I was planning to write a book based on our love story. I wonder if I had gone through all the old letters then if… Read more: Asshole
• Until she’s 18: A prophesy
  Once I stood in our kitchenheld our baby daughterdid our dishesfuming You didn’t helpweren’t a partnerweren’t a parentfrustrating I thought to myselfvery clearlystick it out until she’s 18 beforedivorcing You… Read more: Until she’s 18: A prophesy
• The Past
  I’ve been doing some reading, and I know. I know I’m not supposed to put my energy in the past. I need my energy for now and tomorrow and tomorrow’s… Read more: The Past
• Our Score
  I cried a littlewhen I put away the scrabble board the other day and found tucked in a paper with our score. You won, you always did. Do you ever… Read more: Our Score
• Our Grocery Discount Card
  I was 16 I bet, when we shared that bowl of microwave popcorn, sitting on your bed. Remember how we thought it was so cool that we always went for… Read more: Our Grocery Discount Card
• Clock Out
  “Why are you writing that? I wasn’t using humor or sarcasm.” I don’t know, Gary. Sometimes my sarcasmleaks outaccidentally oops. Would you understand if I explained it to you, slowly?… Read more: Clock Out
• Burn Baby Burn
  Movie ticketsProm picturesLove lettersArt WorkGiftsCards Piece by pieceInto the aluminum pan I use every December to make Chex Mixthat I set on the grill for safety My lighter is hard… Read more: Burn Baby Burn
• Of course
  Of course I miss The crook of an armThe shared historyThe laughterThe sex But alsowho the fuck am I supposed to askto look into my eyeand tell meIs that an… Read more: Of course
• Lawyer’s Office
  Remember when we met at your divorce lawyer’s officeand your lawyer came out and invited us in by sayingjovially”Okay! Mr. And Mrs.!” like it was our first public appearance after… Read more: Lawyer’s Office
• Quiet Math
  It’s quiet herethere used to be you, me, three kids, two cats, a dogthat’s eighteight you leftseven our daughter went to collegesix we got a new kittenseven our 6 year-old… Read more: Quiet Math
• Holiday Greetings
  Do they make a greeting card that accurately articulatesthe way to say what you want to say after helping Santaafter walking up and down the steps, carrying gifts filling stockingscleaning… Read more: Holiday Greetings
• Happy New Year
  Today as I was pulling into the grocery parking lot I thought suddenly about you And all the Betrayal For just a moment At first I thought maybe you should… Read more: Happy New Year
• Are you Paying Attention?
  There was a songthat came onevery time I was halfway home from visiting mydying friendin the summer of 2020 I was already crying but then The chicksSangcalm downyou know he’s… Read more: Are you Paying Attention?
• accidental thoughts
  One of the best humans I know said, “It would be okay and reasonable to miss his penis.” But I don’t think I domiss your penisI meanwhat’s there to miss?… Read more: accidental thoughts
• A Different Timeline
  There’s a children’s book titled with the two main characters’ names. It’s a cute book, actually. It’s just that the characters’ names are what you called me and you. For… Read more: A Different Timeline
• Just me
  You’re missing the part where the kids are all old-er Away. Working. Hanging Out. You’re missing the part when you don’t need a babysitterWhen there are hours of a quiet… Read more: Just me
• Adele
  Sometime in the hazy, fuzzy time of mid-divorce, I played music on the Alexa I put in the kitchen. One morning you came down, and one of Adele’s new songs… Read more: Adele
• It’s probably the weather
  It’s probably the weather, or the fact that February is ending that makes me think of this time, 4 years ago. 4 years ago! That weekend I went away with… Read more: It’s probably the weather
• Happy Anniversary?
  “How will you celebrate your divorce anniversary?” Someone asked in a divorce Facebook group. It made me pause. I guess that would depend. Like, which date do you celebrate? Is… Read more: Happy Anniversary?
• Thank You, Anger
  I thought to myself, I’m so angry. Maybe I should try to remember something good. My angerProtects mePrevents mefrom remembering any good timesor were there any good times?if I can’t… Read more: Thank You, Anger
• Decades to Lettered Lists
  I have a new name for my book. I’ll call it From Decades to Lettered Lists Unfortunately it’s a warningA Caution(Don’t get married, girls!)It’s a short story, yesit just takes… Read more: Decades to Lettered Lists
• You Snake. . .
  One night I had a dream. I was killing a venomous snake. It was odd because the snake had kept appearing but only as half its original form, and so… Read more: You Snake. . .
• Dry Erase Memories
  Today I grabbed an old plastic file boxand noticed you had written MEMORIESin red permanent inkI’ll always recognizeyour all capitals your handwritingused to write LOVE ALWAYSI tried to wipe off… Read more: Dry Erase Memories
• Grief is Weird.
  This sort of grief is weird. Maybe all grief is weird. I mostly remember the asshole you.It’s the you I knew last, most recently. Now, it’s the only you —Which… Read more: Grief is Weird.
• Indifference
  I have burned most of the sentimental hogwash from my marriage. So, I was momentarily surprised when I found a stack of cards the other day. I had forgotten that… Read more: Indifference
• I don’t think it’s called healing
  Years ago someone taught me a writing lessonnot to use ing verbsor I guess it was a lesson for how to writewithout spitting out too many gerunds and present participles… Read more: I don’t think it’s called healing
• It’s just 5 years
  I want you to know I’ve been quiet because I am busy. Lest you think I’m over it all. Or like, healed. It’s just — I don’t have time really… Read more: It’s just 5 years
• Is this a dam?
  Close your eyes. I have built a wallyou can’t see iteven I can’t see itShit.I’m glad I wrote and wrote and wrote beforethe memories leftI don’t remember any moreI guess… Read more: Is this a dam?