Was It Really This Easy, Once You

But All The Love In The World Won't Save A Sinking Ship. You Have To Either Bail Or Jump Overboard.

How It Seemed Like You Could See Everything, But Certain Things Were Blocked Out, Hidden.

She Was Just A Shell Of Her Former Self, Functioning And Talking But Hardly Alive.

We Sat There, Not Talking, For A Few Minutes. He Ate The Moon Pie; Only Skinny People Can Scarf Down Junk Food Like That. Finally, I Said, "norman?" "yeah?" "are You Ever Going To Show Me The Painting?" "man," He Said. "you Are, Like, So Impatient." "i Am Not," I Said. "i've Been Waiting Forever." "okay, Okay." He Stood Up And Went Over To The Corner, Picking Up The Painting And Bringing It Over To Rest Against The Bright Pink Belly Of One Of The Mannequins. Then, He Handed Me A Bandana. "tie That On.

Wake Up, Caitlin, Mr. Lensing Had Said. But What He Didn't Under­stand Was That This Dreamland Was Preferable, Walking Through This Life Half-sleeping, Everything At Arm's Length Or Farther Away.