Ache.

by Lillian Olson

This is the culture of my generation, a bunch of kids who were never taught to triumph—we were taught how to fail with dignity

There’s a realization, in the midst of the ignoring and using, that no matter how you look at it, what angle of positivity you use, you are burning alive.

I made my final stop and now I am walking circles; get up, go to work, complete a menial activity, go to sleep.

This is where I am and my goal is not to achieve forward motion. It is to be comfortable in my stasis.

My greatest wish is to disappear but my presence is not small enough. My body is too big and my misgivings bigger.

This is so much easier. I don’t think it’s living, but it’s not hurting either.