Relational Red Flags

  • The Illusions – Chapter 6

    Jeff texts a photo of our new yoga mats, a bright splash of color against his desk. His message radiates eagerness for this evening, and a corresponding ripple of excitement moves through me. I imagine us practicing in the park,… Continue reading

    The Illusions – Chapter 6
  • The Illusions – Chapter 5

    My phone vibrates on the nightstand, and I reach for it. “My quote of the day from my current book.” A text from Jeff arrives as I linger in bed, sunlight pooling on the sheets. “‘We inflate ourselves with a… Continue reading

    The Illusions – Chapter 5
  • The Illusions – Chapter 3

    As the days blend together, Jeff and I fall into a steady pattern—calls and texts threading through the quiet stretches of my routine. He’s candid about his past. The women on some dating app, the halfhearted connections that never reached… Continue reading

    The Illusions – Chapter 3
  • The Illusions – Chapter 2

    Early the next morning, my phone buzzes—a text notification. Waking up at 7:30 AM on a Saturday feels like a cruel joke. I grope for my phone and blink at the screen. Jeff: “Donuts at Giant bakery were excellent. I… Continue reading

    The Illusions – Chapter 2
  • The Illusions – Chapter 1

    The weather is perfect — warm sun, light breeze — the kind that tricks you into believing things could be easy, that life might be simple. Yet it’s another busy day at work. I come back to the office after… Continue reading

    The Illusions – Chapter 1