The Impossible Girl

by Lydia Kang

But this was where she lived, on the edges that defied classification.

One always thinks one has forever, and that tomorrow will come to wipe away yesterday’s misfortunes and mistakes so one can start anew.

’Tis far too late, but I am sorry.

If you’re going to cry, go to church and pray for the living. The dead don’t need your tears.”

The betterment of humankind through understanding was worth the cause.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been informed, directly or indirectly, that her womb consumed far too much energy to allow for mental acuity.

She wanted to laugh—a competition between who was lonelier was a terrible competition, indeed.

But being poor wears on a person, even with bountiful supplies of love.

Peace of mind is just that, in the mind. Not on earth, with earthly problems

Her identity was not so easily discerned. It was up to her to decide who she would be.

“My life and my body are mine, madam. I may say anything I like about them.”

Sometimes her stares were as loud as screams.

Personally, she didn’t believe in heaven or hell. An earthly life was hell enough, and heaven appeared in the ephemera of every day, like dust motes sparkling in a quiet sunrise,

“You see, I believe a man has many hearts. A heart for his children, a heart for his wife. A heart for God, and, if he be as generous as I, a heart for other beautiful specimens.”

She needed this oblivion, this audacity of being very much alive.

“Like he wants to roast me for dinner and spend eternity dining.”

“One can only hope to outlive fear,” Cora said.

New careers were for those who had the luxury of calm wonderings.

I would contain the borders of your world and make them mine.

I chose the shattering and was consumed.

All things are poison and nothing is without poison. Only the dose makes a thing not to be poison.’”

Her face was wet with apologies.

these things all crumble with time. After you and I pass someday, hopefully when we are very old, no one may ever know that they rested here. And a tree is a living legacy to leave behind instead, don’t you think?”

“It seems I have collected a variety of thoughts that have needed amending.”