My Year of Rest and Relaxation

by Ottessa Moshfegh

I wasn’t worried about money.

My hibernation was self-preservational. I thought that it was going to save my life.

She was a slave to vanity and status, which was not unusual in a place like Manhattan,

“I’m not a junkie or something,” I said defensively. “I’m taking some time off. This is my year of rest and relaxation.”

Reva often spoke about “settling down.” That sounded like death to me.

Being pretty only kept me trapped in a world that valued looks above all else.