Dead in Long Beach, California: A Novel

by Venita Blackburn

With the concept of Later came the perversion of More.

We believe it is brave to not lock a phone. It’s a declaration of self-sufficiency and the ability to hold on to one’s secrets in tight fists and deep pockets.

The length of the breath is very important. One second too long can indicate sarcasm over thoughtfulness. One second too short and panic is suggested over resolve. Enemies eat panic and loathe sarcasm.

Good restaurants have bad restrooms. It has been documented. It is a fact. In a good restaurant the restroom is small and poorly ventilated. The line is always long and full of terror.

The line for the restroom moved by a single individual. Everyone shifted forward with the assumption that more than one person would move along, but that assumption was replaced with despair and resignation.

Having abandoned the effort to sleep ever again in life, Coral turned to Google searches of exes.

The reprieve of a digital space was less of a salve and more of a bad medicine.

The Internet aggravated small bites of anxiety into festering wounds. The Internet pretended to be the answer to the problems it created.