Say Hi I was sitting on a bench today. Three benches in a row, each one with a person alone, staring into their own little worlds. None of us spoke. Then a dog passed by. Not rushing anywhere, not caught up in thought — just wagging its tail. It looked at me, slowed down, and […]
The Kindest Memory You Can Keep
She snapped at me yesterday. Not cruelly. Not unfairly. Just… sharply. A flash of frustration. A tone that cut quicker than intended. And for a moment, I felt it rise in me— That old instinct to match energy with energy. To defend. To correct. To sharpen back. But I didn’t. Not because I’m enlightened. Not […]
The Country Isn’t the Point—She Is
I know it’s not just about where. But still—something about the place matters. Not because it needs to be perfect. But because I want the land itself to hold the memory. To feel like an echo that never fades. And lately, I’ve been asking myself: Where does forever begin? I’ve narrowed it down to four, […]
When EQ Became the Real Sex Appeal
It took longer than I thought. That “tomorrow” I kept promising? It didn’t come the next day. Or the next. It came after a hangover. After a silence. After watching Erin move through the morning while I tried to remember why I drank in the first place. And the truth? I didn’t drink because I […]
This Is What Commitment Feels Like
There’s a moment in every love story that changes everything. Not the moment you meet. Not the first kiss. Not even the night you say “I love you.” It’s the moment you realize: “I want to provide—not because I have to… but because I get to.” With her, that moment landed today. It hit me […]
Some Hearts Don’t Return to Us, But They Still Leave Something Sacred Behind
I almost joined a cult once. Not the robe-wearing, moon-worshipping kind. A softer one. More… socially acceptable. The kind that gathers quietly around the belief that truth should always be softened to protect people. It sounded noble. Empathetic. “Don’t say the hard thing—it’ll hurt them.” “Better to leave as the villain—at least then they can […]
Unburdened
Marc: My friend wrote back. Not much. Just enough. Said he got home, thanked me for the message, said it helped. That he’d adapt it to his own feelings. And then something unexpected— He apologized. “Sorry if the conversation made you a bit uneasy.” Funny how even hard conversations can come wrapped in kindness. And […]
The Party I Didn’t Go To (And the Peace That Was Never Negotiated)
Hi. Marc here. This one starts simple. Last night, there was a party. One of those “you really should come” parties. Good people. Good drinks. Good music. The kind of thing I would’ve said yes to without blinking. But this time? I said no. Not with guilt. Not with excuses. Just a soft, grounded: “I’m […]
The Law of Standlighting
Hi.Marc here. The other night, I was outside. Smoking. Thinking. Not spiraling—just… still. And in that stillness, a question landed: Have I really changed? Or have I just gotten better at watching myself choose? I used to drink differently. Not in quantity, but in meaning. Back then, alcohol was the ignition. The ritual. The reward. […]
The Dog Who Standlit Me
Hi. Marc here. The other night, I didn’t dream. At least, not in the usual sense. But something came over me— a moment stitched from memory, guilt, and something softer. I was smoking. Late. Outside. One of those nights where silence feels heavier than air. Where you’re not sure if you’re escaping something… or just […]