Inner Work
-
The Illusions – Chapter 20
“For your enjoyment.” Jeff’s text arrives with a video of him rappelling off a cliff, the camera jostling wildly before he slides down the sandstone face with a surprised hoot. “Here’s where I slid. Was fun regardless.” Utah’s red rocks… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 19
It’s late August, the air outside thick with the last desperate breath of summer. As I clock in, the sharp chemical scent of bleach stings my nose, while the office buzzes with cold air from the vents and the harsh… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 18
The sky outside my window is the color of old dishwater, clouds hanging low and thick, smothering everything in gray. It’s the kind of afternoon where the light never quite arrives. A similar fog has settled over my mind —… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 17
My phone buzzes against the nightstand, and I reach for it before I’m fully awake. The screen blinks to life in the morning light, and there it is — his name, his words, his voice compressed into a notification I… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 16
My pillow is still damp when the phone rings. I’ve been staring at the window for an hour, maybe two, watching the light shift from gray to gold while Donna’s words replay on a loop I can’t stop. I don’t… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 15
The paint peeling at the edge of the hallway wall needles at me, a reminder of the endless list of things left undone. My parents just left, and the kids are gone for the afternoon, leaving the air bright and… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 14 – Dreams
My phone buzzes against the kitchen counter, cutting into the hush of morning. I’m elbow-deep in soapy water, coaxing a stubborn coffee ring from the bottom of my favorite mug. The vibration is insistent—the kind of thing that signals you’re… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 13
On a Saturday morning, Jeff sends me a selfie: his hair wild, sticking up in tufts, his undershirt creased, glasses askew, and that lopsided grin splitting his face. He wishes me a good morning, and I can’t help but laugh,… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 9
The soft rock music playing is a relief, filling the silence in the car on the way back. It feels like we’re both running on low battery, neither wanting to admit it. At home, I collapse onto my back patio,… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 8
My phone buzzes with a selfie from Jeff, lounging at the airport gate. He’s wearing that same athletic-style top, the one he had on Friday evening, and I can’t resist teasing him about it. How he always gravitates toward the… Continue reading
