“Goodnight Abuela,” I called to my grandmother at the end of the night. My mom was taking her to bed. “Feliz Navidad!” My grandmother leaned over to give my grandfather a kiss and said, “Hurry up. Don’t take too long.” “Just finishing my drink,” my grandpa assured her. A few minutes ago she’d been asking…
The Truth
I remember vividly when I first discovered lying. I must have been about 3 or 4 years old. I was prone to stomach pains, even back then. While I don't remember the exact context surrounding the grand revelation, I remember the excitement when my brain finally connected the dots. I could just say I have…
The Fire Alarm
"We're going to die because of this cat," Ant declared, desperation punctuating every syllable. He was on his knees by the bed, head down, trying to convince Red to come out. In the hallway the fire alarm demanded our attention. Ant wasn't wrong. If it came down to it, all of our efforts would go…
The Evidence
It manifestsIn the blinked back tearsThe dried blood around the cuticlesIn the hushed voiceThe averted eye contact It manifests in little waysA dimmed light An abandoned hopeA lost dreamAn internal switchA lack of energy while existing It manifests and makes itself evident Despite the “I’m fines”And reassurances Despite the polite smilesAnd eager nodsDespite what everyone wants It manifestsAnd…
The Before Times
“I don’t know, do you think I should just cancel the whole thing?” My friend Ella texted me one afternoon. I was on my couch with my laptop on my tummy, working my super cool new job that allowed me to work from home one day every two weeks. Wasn’t that a dream? Ella elaborated,…
The New Soul
Some people are old souls. You can tell from when they’re young. They’re intuitive and smart, empathetic and understanding. They just seem to know things about the world. They just seem to get it. They make the right choices. They have good gut instincts. They’re talented. They embody the ancestral knowledge of the generations of…
The Pizza
“Ojala,” my grandmother always used to tell me when the topic of marriage came up, “one day when you get married, I’ll be able to watch you walk down the aisle.” “Abuela,” I’d roll my eyes, the concept of death so foreign to me at such a young age. “Of course you’ll be at my…
The Goodbye Party
I didn’t get to work with Morgan too closely. She transitioned into our department one spring and really only stayed for a full three month cycle of the program. In the end, it was for the best that her boyfriend got a job out east where they were originally from. She really hated our boss…
The Dissolution
Using my straw, I swirled my iced coffee to mix the liquid sugar with the coffee. My phone buzzed. A quick glance revealed it was Morty. I shuddered, wanting to shove my phone deep in my bag. It was too soon. I needed space. Instead, I opened it up to see what he had to…
The Aggression
As a newcomer into the world of academic publishing sales, I was anxious to prove myself. I had gone from being a top performing teacher in my old job, to a novice, inexperienced imposter. Or so it felt. I felt like I was running too quick on my hamster wheel, just dying to get someone…
Stories I've Never Told... 