She uses hurtful words. Words that lead to self-doubt. One day this color combination will be fashionable! I yell, over the sound of the TV.

The tea tasted like soda and I said, What’s this? and she said, You weren’t always so stupid, then she went to pee and I heard her laughing.

You saved my life. Your kidney does whatever it is that kidneys do inside of me. We are joined in this way. Forever. I get my ugly from you.

She reaches over and lights a cigarette. One step closer to death, she sighs. He watches her as she exhales. It’s like being famous, he says.

He says, I love you so much. She’s never heard anything like this before. How much? she asks. But he remains silent. Because he doesn’t know.

I was down. My friend bought me a beer, and then another friend bought me another beer. Soon I would be drunk. Because they were my friends.

The day had worked its evil. We limped to a bar and ordered drinks and commiserated about our lot. And then the drinks worked their evil too.