I Gave Away the Birthday Chocolates, Then the Screaming Started

that, unguarded, sticky-fingered, alive.

I didn’t take a single piece.

Then I left.

I got back in my car and drove away feeling oddly lighter, like I’d handed off an unwanted reminder and freed up some air in my apartment.

If I’d known what was actually inside that box, I would have burned it in the parking lot.

That night, I was padding around my apartment continue reading …