The Devil Wears Black

by L.J. Shen

I knew all too well that it was always too soon to say goodbye to a parent.

No wonder his last name was Black. His heart certainly was.

“Death is no longer an obscure idea. It is real and it is waiting, so you grab life by the balls. When you go through the horror of seeing someone you love die and still manage to wake up the next day to tie your shoelaces, to shove a tasteless breakfast down your throat, to breathe, you realize survival trumps tragedy. Always. It’s a primal instinct.”

I turned around and stumbled back home by foot, pressing my hand against my face, trying to breathe her in from the time she’d rubbed my fingers against her collarbone in the elevator. Her scent was gone.

Being strong is not only kind on myself—but on other people too.”