Tag: #midlifecrisis
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16. Lilith Walking
Chapter 16: Lilith Walking November 2021 Every muscle yells at me as I slog up another hill, slowing my pace to finish my run, having pursued every suburban mountain I could find along the way. I’ve taken to running the hills in the neighboring town to try to prevent myself from losing interest in the…
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15. The Hill
Chapter 15: The Hill November 2021 Birthdays and anniversaries passed in muted tones of grey, while I overcompensated, becoming the torchbearer for fun, kicking myself into overdrive to mask what was happening from the girls. It was slowly burning me out, but I couldn’t pull Adam out of it. A slump was becoming something much…
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14. It Is What It Is
Chapter 14: It Is What It Is October 2021 Despite my abhorrence toward evasion, I find avoiding unplanned encounters with Henry easier than tackling another conversation. I’ve made it clear to Henry that I don’t want to see him. It’s the ‘why’ that is troubling. I continue to pocket this thought, pulling it out again…
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13. What It Is Is A Problem
Chapter 13: What It Is Is A Problem August 2021 It happens when I’m covered in sweat. On my first run after having Beth, I thought I might look like a slightly squashed tomato, but I was proud of myself for lasting as long as I did. Exercise after kids should be a resume skill…
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12. Mother’s Milk
Chapter 12: Mother’s Milk June 2021 The house is full of noise. A cacophony crescendoes in waves as I calmly shepherd my team from one virtual meeting to the next and attempt to interview candidates, channeling all of my wry humor into my professional conversations. The smiles sometimes don’t quite reach our eyes. Comments like…
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11. Maple
Chapter 11: Maple November 2020 “Just going to take a few more images and pay more attention. Sorry if I’m less chatty right now,” said the technician. That was when I knew. We were trading jokes when Alice stopped talking and put more gel on my stomach. The abruptness of her U-turn made me want…
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10. A Small Door
Chapter 10: A Small Door May 2021 “Still alive. You?” The ellipsis that quickly follows my words distracts me from the pump’s discomfort. I watch as Henry writes. “[Climbs off bridge.] Everything is awesome! There is no Armageddon. We have toilet paper again. What are you doing?” I listen to the “woo-sha, woo-sha” sound of…
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9. Circles Across The Floor
Chapter 9: Circles Across The Floor April 2002 Henry’s arms wrap around my waist, his fingers tapping against my hips, keeping up with the music. We dance slowly across the family room in small circles, hips swaying against each other. We lean into each other and smile, taking our time to get there. There’s no…
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8. Clocks On The Walls
Chapter 8: Clocks On The Walls May 2021 Beth plays with her fingers while I fold laundry on our bed. Tiny socks and onesies form a neat line on my blue sheets. Jane has glued herself to her sister’s side and is singing a song, making it up as she goes, kissing Beth’s toes between…
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7. Books & Blood
Chapter 7: Books & Blood Henry owns a bookstore in my hometown. It is beautiful inside. Books, records, and art await your senses. In my twenties, I would linger in the quieter aisles, brushing the spines of books with my fingers and glancing at pages while we tested each other’s boundaries, waiting for Henry to…
A Story For Us To Remember When We Are Old. © Laura Coughlin 2023 