Today I lost the Jason I used to have. The Jason I used to have would text me several times a day to see how my day was going. The Jason I used to have would get upset with me for countless reasons: leaving his apartment for mine when we were upset, joking about cancer, crying like a kitten to see if the cat he was watching would react, being dishonest about who I was talking to, and giving him […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: breakup, love, Oakland, therapy
He took my shoulder and pulled me in close to him. He pointed. “See that tree over there? The smallest one?” There was an ocean of trees and I did see the smallest one. “It’s HUGE! Didn’t you say you only planted it like 6 or 7 months ago?” “It’s not huge.” “Yes it is! Look at it!” Six or seven months ago his cat died and he buried it between the lake and Grand Avenue, in a tree covered […]
Categories: stories • Tags: cats, Lake Merritt, Oakland, playground
Last night I was in their kitchen, waiting for my phone to charge so I could go home and feel safe during the drive. I get shifty every time I leave their place and take too long to get settled in my car. They live in one of those neighborhood’s that’s not your own, so you don’t trust it. I was hungry and polite, so I said “yes” when I was offered pizza but took the smallest (square) slice in […]
Categories: stories • Tags: not stammer, Oakland, selfie, short story, stutter
Her face was covered in scabs. They were as bright and permanent as her skin-tight clothes. “The doors are wet. They’ve just been refinished. Be careful as you’re walking around. That’s why it smells in here. You might get high.” I was already tipsy from my skin soaking in absinth since morning. I sat my bags down. “An additional benefit.” The husband perked up, showing a coffee and nicotine stained grin through a thick, brown beard. “’An additional benefit.’ Yeah, […]
Categories: scents, stories • Tags: Absinth, Amouage Memoir Man, BB gun, Oakland, Oakland California
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