This Is How It Always Is

by Laurie Frankel

Is it always “or”? Is it never “and”? —STEPHEN SONDHEIM, INTO THE WOODS Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) —WALT WHITMAN, “SONG OF MYSELF”

Such an important part of life, conception, and you missed it altogether.

It was also true that nights in the ER were often more peaceful than nights at home with her family. Sometimes they even involved less blood.