As night advances upon the horizon, darkness reaches into the sun’s last rays like death’s long, bony fingers about to snuff the life out of what’s left of the long summer’s day. All of earth’s colorful beauty will soon be hidden in the grays of the night. The darkening shadows stir me to rise with a purpose not yet known to me. I have to go, and in that direction. Gliding effortlessly along t...

Heat rises from the reddish brown dirt, refracting the light into shimmering waves of haze. The air is stifling and nearly still, as if nature is holding its breath for a moment, waiting to exhale and breathe life into the empty terrain and conjure up a dust devil. One spins mightily in the far distance, violently whipping sand and particles into the air… air that seems to suffocate more than sus...

ME: Well, hello there. I’m not sure who you think I am…

HE: Jessie

ME: I’m not Jessie. And I can assure you I am not one to stand anyone up.

HE: What??

HE: Don’t fuck wih me Jessie

ME: I’m not Jessie. Check the number.

HE: This IS the number!!!

ME: Well, I’m not Jessie. Was it a first date?

ME: Perhaps you were given the wrong number, or you entered it incorrectly.

HE: You...

Lying in bed, thoughts ran rampant through her mind after she hung up on her boyfriend. “Why in the world would he think that’s ok? Why would I NOT want to be invited? Go ahead, spend time with your friends and don’t include me. Never mind that I was dressed and ready to go, that when you said we were going I thought I was a ‘we.’ I’ve had it! I’m going to start to make my own plans and do things...