On the Same Page

by Haley Cass

Getting my shit together and keeping up with a sourdough starter,”

But, as discussed in Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, the further you are from the earth’s surface, the faster time passes. It’s called gravitational time dilation.”

Riley’s other hand came out and she used both of her small, soft hands to coax Gianna’s fist open. When she did, Riley slotted her fingers between Gianna’s – and they just, fit.

It turned out that attempting to work on not only two hours of sleep but also with the impending evening of fucking your best friend was not conducive to productivity.

“But when it’s only us, hanging out together, here, we can just be. The most basic, natural forms of ourselves.”

While Ellie was emotionally very sensitive to their mother’s expectations, their mother was very sensitive to Ellie’s lack of communication with her. They both took any slight – real or perceived, minor or major – from the other, to heart.

“You’re a giving person,” Riley had said to her a few weeks ago. “Maybe you’ve just been giving to the wrong people.”

All of the people you’ve made traditions with – none of us would have them with anyone else.”

Because, I don’t remember when my parents ever wanted me around them,”

“I know when a man is interested. And I know how I make them interested. Women don’t feel so simple.”

Riley was positive that no one had ever thought of Gianna as an alternative option. She was increasingly becoming alarmingly convinced that Gianna was the option, and that everyone else would only ever be an alternative.

“Why am I just so inconsequential to them?” Gianna asked, her voice breaking under the weight of the words.

“What the hell is the point? What’s the point of having one if you don’t love them? Abortion was already way legal when they got pregnant with me, so why? Why would they have me, if they didn’t want me around, ever? I would want my child to feel so… loved,” her voice turned soft. Contemplative. “I would want them to feel – vital. Important.”

rat-faced weasel miscreant shitbag

“Because being informed about all of those things, about politics and wars and foreign affairs and capitalism and local crime – about how bleak everything could be – is the only way you can ever change it.

“You showed me that I’m loveable, Riley,” her whisper was thick with emotion, and Riley felt it land inside of her.