Week Nine: Monday through Friday

Monday.

KRAUSS, JOSHUA R.

Joshua Richard Krauss, 20, passed away unexpectedly Monday, January 14th, 2013. He is survived by parents David Krauss and Bethany Giardi, half-siblings Jonathan, Anne, and Matthew Giardi, as well as step siblings Taylor and Loretta Kemper-Smith. Though he had many struggles in his life, Josh will always be remembered for his kind nature and sensitive soul. A private service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Tuesday.

His Excuses Are Starting to Wear Thin

One time I mistakenly took the sinbound train from work. It was an express train, too—earliest stop I could get off at was Lust and, well...

Wednesday.

Odd Duck

And sometimes you remember how the faucet dripping into a sink overfull of dishes in that apartment made you want to scream, how those roommates made you want to stay in your room forever and relieve yourself in Mason jars when necessary (they’re so loud! they talk about me when they think I’m not home! etc.!), and you wonder—Am I doomed to repeat the fucking past forever? And then, much quieter—Is it me...?

Thursday.

Workshop 

It’s just, it’s a journal entry, she said, resting her thin hands on his 12-point double-spaced story. He could see her blue ink scrivenings all over the page. Her penmanship was elegant—precise, with occasional soaring loops… though he knew everything she had written would make his blood boil.

The details are great, but it’s more like a record of what happened instead of why.

Why does anything happen? he replied, with a small smile.

She gave him a look of such annoyance then, and he knew, with utter certainty, that someday she would be his first wife.

Friday.

Grief

That was horrible!

No honey, you were great.

Yeah, I know.

Canned laughter.

Whatcha watching? she says, sitting next to me.

I don’t know. It’s just on.

She squeezes my hand. I squeeze back.

I’m here if you need me.

Thank you, I say.

But all I really need is this.