That Way Madness Lies: XV of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined

by Dahlia Adler

The colors were still there, still bright and achy as he looked up at her from the floor with his weak-tea eyes and warm-bread curls and the heat of his cheeks like the sun on her skin. This boy, who was hers. Who she didn’t know, who she knew better than anyone, who didn’t know her but was willing to learn her anyway. Who ran from her when she first walked into the room but wasn’t running now. Her stranger, companion, not yet a friend, who thought she was a bitch, who gave her a doorknob like he was giving her his heart. Who was still growing up, who was so far behind. Who offered her freedom after keeping her inside a closet until she was able to see the freedom he offered her. Who was just a boy looking up at a girl by the flickering light of a dying lightbulb. On the first floor of his best friend’s house, at an elopement party loud enough to get shut down by the cops. With his pupils blown wide, in full colorbirth, in honeymoon, alone. Katherine let go of the doorknob and slowly, to not startle him, kneeled until they were the same height. Petrucio looked at the door and at the feet casting shadows from the outside into this little room, then he turned back to her. She reached out to touch his cheek, but he flinched, ready for her to hurt him again. Katherine hushed softly until he unwound, face less pinched, eyes less frantic, then she placed her hand on his cheek. Petrucio closed his eyes and let out a breath. She hadn’t noticed that he’d been shaking until he stopp...