Relationship Patterns
-
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 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 12
Jeff, who is out of state for work, texts me a photo of a rental Jeep Wrangler, the kind with the roof panels popped out so the sky and wind rush in. A fun car, he calls it, grinning behind… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 11
The days blur together. Somewhere between the text threads and the nightly FaceTime calls, Jeff has become a rhythm I don’t question, especially the prayers. I wait for them now, expect them, the way I expect sunrise. Each one layers… Continue reading
-
The Illusions – Chapter 10
…constant liars…constantly stir up trouble… broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.…a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong…a person who sows discord in a family…obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction…It… Continue reading
