14 Comments
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Jenean McBrearty's avatar

A thrilling, unpleasant ride because betrayal is unpleasant and the hatred thrilling in its scope. No one told me my husband, who had moved out "to find himself" had found a another woman to live with. I wish he'd found her before I had a baby --now I had two kids to care for. But then, a friend of mine, who married a Mexican man with a ton of dignity, saw them together on Mother's Day, followed them to her house, and then dove to my house and said, "I've got to tell you so you don't waste anymore love on this good-for-nothing bastard." I didn't know him well, but I knew Susie very well, and I will forever be grateful to them both. Later she said they didn't even hesitate, took them all of two seconds to decide I needed to know. Mui pronto!

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Jo Jansen's avatar

Beautifully written. I have been all of these at one time or another. These days I'm going for old and feisty - appreciating the beauty of my best friend in the mirror.

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Mary LI's avatar

Love the aching vulnerability we felt young: truly creatures, no different than animals, more instinct than calculating.

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UNBLOCKED's avatar

Maybe your best yet, but I say that about so much of your writing, and if I don't say it, I am definitely thinking it. "Desired but not respected" has been the theme of my 70 years. Thanks for putting years of agony into 4 words that I can leave behind me now, ❤️‍🔥

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Richard Banks's avatar

Wow! I feel this.

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tori orr's avatar

In my 4th year of marriage I caught my husband cheating by reading the diary of his kid sister. She didn't like it but didn't feel it was her place to say anything. Years later my roommate and best friend, with whom I had shared many stories of my secret crush, started dating him at the same time as I was laid off. I never knew that either until they got married. I lost both my sense of the real and the fantasy at the same time. Betrayal is the easy side of constancy, a quality no one seems to value in the age of move fast and break things. Rather than circle the drain I have become a creature OF the drain. I find my joy in letting it all flow past me down into dark nothingness.

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Zoe FitzGerald Carter's avatar

I love the rhythm and musicality of your writing. This feels like a wild and exciting ballad, emotional and dramatic. Repetitive in the best way.

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KL's avatar

When I was little my favorite animal was mouse. I think this is why.

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Anastasia Tsoukala's avatar

I felt it all. Thank you!

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Marianne McCashin's avatar

This is brilliant.

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Cathy Legg's avatar

❤️

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Tanya's avatar

Cool story

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Ophelia Blair's avatar

"You are special because you belong to me" really made me realize how I've been treated by family, and how I treat others. Poignant as always!

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Saige's avatar

I had the same best friends once. I find it hard to trust friends now. Most find me wild and wilful. I am so glad you wrote this. I am so glad you are wild and real. I respect you.

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