Magic for Liars

by Sarah Gailey

“Dad does. Mom did, before she died. It’s okay,” I said, preemptively answering the oh-god-what-land-mine-have-I-stepped-on panic in his face. “I mean, it’s not okay, but it’s fine. It was a long time ago.” The bartender looked at me with way too much sincerity. “I’m sorry,” he said, and I wanted to spit because I hate that. I hate it when people say that.

I anticipated the questions he was waiting to ask, the questions everyone always asks. The questions that I stopped wanting to answer the moment they became questions I could answer.

“Um … are, are they? At work? Dark forces, I mean?” Torres laughed. She had a good laugh. “Ms. Gamble. Dark forces are at work everywhere. Turn on the news.

Hahaha

the bags under my eyes were definitely well past the carry-on limit,

Lmaooooo