The Devil Wears Black

by L.J. Shen

“I was so busy trying to be the man I thought my parents wanted I completely missed out on my ho years. Don’t let that happen to you, Maddie. You go and be that ho we all want to be.”

My father was dying, and there was nothing within my power to help him. I’d grown so accustomed to throwing money at my problems; the idea I was defenseless against something so profound, that would alter my life in such a radical way, made me irrationally angry.

my number of fucks to give was constantly on the decline and reserved for immediate family and true friends only.

Poppies are strong, stubborn, and impossible to break. Be a poppy. Always.

“Bull. Fucking. Shit. He makes you comfortable.” “What’s wrong with comfortable?” “Comfortable would never set you on fire.” “Maybe I don’t want to burn.” “We all want to burn, Mad. It is dangerous, ergo, we want it.”