Here We Go Again

by Alison Cochrun

“Stay, stay, stay,” she chants like a prayer. Or a Taylor Swift song.

She’s not sure what possesses her to cry out for help, but one minute, she’s catapulting her naked ass after a dog, and the next, the bathroom door is opening, and Logan is standing there, staring at that naked ass with her mouth wide open.

“Life is the prickly pear. It’s always going to be a combination of beauty and hurt, no matter how hard you try to protect

yourself from the hard parts. There is no way to avoid pain.”

Yesterday, kissing Logan in the rain felt like writing when the words were good. It felt like everything inside her was clicking together, instinct and art melding in her fingertips, like that was the thing she was put on this earth to do. Write stories and kiss Logan Maletis.

“You girls want some Tuesdays with Morrie advice?” Joe says when they’re all back in the car. “Here it is. Take more nudes while you’re young.”