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.”