Hurt for Me

by Heather Levy

It was better to buoy her with lies than drown her in a truth that would crush her.

“I guess some people’s pleasure is another person’s power.”

Action without intention is like slapping clay around, making a mess of it.

“Because it’s easier for men to take something than to earn it,” he said after a moment. “Men are taught to take things because it shows they’re powerful. And a man without power is nothing in our society.”

Rae wondered what would happen if all the women in the world collectively decided to rise up against men, killing all the ones who had molested, raped, or beat them. She imagined there wouldn’t be many men left.

And to my daughter, who’s now on the verge of becoming an adult as I write this, I know you may never read this book, but if you do, you’ll know I wrote Lily for you.

To say I love you is never adequate, so I’ll say that being with you is like being in perpetual subspace.