The things that we remember….

There are few things I take more seriously than sincere book recommendations. I like my physical books beaten and battered by the time I'm done with them. Writing in the margins and annotating are vital to my personal learning process. It's a form of dissecting the book, breaking it down to better understand it.

About two years ago, while listening to English singer-songwriter-producer NAO's album Saturn, I was first exposed to the term "Saturn's Return.” Usually, I am not a horoscope-type of person. Nothing against them, I just read them for entertainment purposes. But something about it seemed to resonate with me.

Deion pressed his ear against the bedroom door. He could hear heavy breathing between sobs. He rested his forehead on the door and exhaled.

10 January 1982.

Dear Ebony,

Remember that summer we spent every day on the beach together?

“Allowances”

(a poem of sorts)

What am I?

I first met Reginald “Reggie” Peters at a red light in afternoon traffic. I saw him asking for something from the two drivers ahead of me. As he made his way towards me, I reached in my backpack on the passenger seat, to see if I had another probiotic orange and cranberry breakfast bar. I had one more, a leftover from lunch.

"Why are you wearing that shirt Dad?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"Literally everything."

"That's the problem with you young people today, you insert your opinions where they weren't asked for. This shirt is gorgeous."

She woke up with a subtle pain in her neck. Did I sleep awkwardly? I don’t think I did. She hit the snooze button on her alarm clock, it was 5:15am. She liked getting up this early. Something about the quiet of the morning that always nourished her soul.

“Is this a new lounge chair?”

“You’ve been coming here for three months, you tell me Neville.”

“I think it is, but I’m not sure exactly. I thought this chair was green.”

“Perhaps your attention to detail is lacking.”

“Perhaps.”

She met her true love in the middle of a field of tombstones. But she wouldn't have this realization for eighteen months.

Focus Tristan.

Why do I always carry myself away with these fantasies in my head? Be present. It’s not everyday you meet a lovely person at a cemetery of all places. She’s coming back from the restroom.

“Why is this line so long?” Liam Baxter said, blowing into his closed fists. “It’s freezing out here.”

“Relax, all of these parents are waiting for their child just like we are honey.”

Erin widened her eyes beneath her wool cap. Liam knew what those eyes meant.

After it happened again, I knew things were going to work out.

There's something about summer nights that feel limitless.

Superheroes are arrogant narcissists. Think about it for a moment.. They swoop in, defeat the opposing force, save the day, then relish in all the praise. I bet superheroes enjoy the adulation more than actually being of service. That’s why being on the wrong side of the law has always intrigued me.

Everyone remembers where they stood when the rug was pulled out from beneath them. Breaking News interrupted every airwave across the nation with an urgent message: The square-cube law has been rescinded. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

“Do you know what this news means?” Carter asked.

“Not exactly,” I said.

he phone rang once before she picked up. “Zoey?”

“Hazel, I’m at work, can’t really talk, is everything okay?”

Hazel stood quiet with the phone to her ear. “What time do you get off?”

We should have never come to Las Vegas for Dexter’s bachelor party.

Coach Culver walked into the gym with a basketball under his arm beside assistant coach Green. “Listen up fellas,” Coach Culver said, walking towards the three players. “Basketball tryouts are always tough. You guys all performed well, but as each of you know, there is only one spot remaining on the team for the center position.”