All the Birds in the Sky

by Charlie Jane Anders

Patricia’s parents were the sort of people who could be in a good mood and angry at almost the same time.

Why oh why is this so so true?

Laurence knew who he was and what he was about, but the world refused to recognize.

Laurence’s dad started to brush him off, but then some half-forgotten resolution to make time for parenting kicked in.

He had conquered a small piece of time, and they were conquering a small piece of space.

that thing where even as you pass unseen through the shadows, you fear everybody is secretly watching and laughing at you.