“When did this begin happening?” The doctor seemed understanding but dumbfounded. Eyebrows raised, Jonah sat before him. His naked skin contracted into pinpricks of gooseflesh as he began to shiver with an amalgamation of cold and fear.
Page 2 of 14
I wrote a longer version of this story a while ago. It has been edited and condensed to be less than 500 words
Everyone told me: Don’t meet dates online. I’d fucked every eligible man on this coast before finally settling down. Before I met my man, my sexlife was boring as shit. I’m devoted now. No secrets. My husband knows my past, so ‘come for me,’ haters! We’re celebrating 2 years!
“I wish I could bring you home with me,” Evan said.
His husband’s mouth opened. Evan imagined they’d argue and held up his finger.
We were both young. I could tell he was still young enough to believe himself invincible. I spotted him moving like an elemental on the other side of the room and downed my drink. The spirits from the bar quelled my nerves and I crossed to join him. I hadn’t done anything like this before.
I was too young to know what it meant. You can’t know what things mean when you can only see things as they seem with young eyes. Experience leads to context and there’s no way to find the context that hides between lies. Not when you’re only seven.
My name is Daniel Blairs. I’ve always been Daniel Blairs. Up until last week, I’d had a pretty successful run as a part time author, part time stay-at-home dad.
I dug for what seemed like hours. Hours and hours of clawing through dirt that varied between hard clay and the sort of thinning sand that normally makes its home on river-bottoms. Silt that sifted through my hands down and away as I went.
If you know Jack Fordham in Braden County Kentucky, please make sure he gets this message:
Dear Jack,
I’m not coming back. Please don’t try to find me. I had so many things that I wanted to say to you but I couldn’t for obvious reasons. I didn’t leave this note at the house, that was for obvious reasons also. I hope that one of your friends finds this somehow and gets it to you.
