Eileen

by Ottessa Moshfegh

When I was conducting these little intake exams, I felt normal, just a regular person going about her day. I enjoyed having a set of clean instructions, following protocol. It gave me a sense of purpose, an easiness. It was a brief vacation from the loud, rabid inner circuitry of my mind.

I learned the long way about love, tried every house on the block before I got it right. Now, finally, I live alone.