The Charm Offensive

by Alison Cochrun

“Crippling is a bit much. I like to think I’m sort of dabbling in depression.”

“You look like the sad old person at a Billie Eilish concert.”

Ryan taking the PS5 and the apartment and all the real furniture, Dev keeping the Disney collectible mugs and the DVD box sets.

There is something disconcerting about having to look up that drastically at another person.

Dev willingly threw away six years on a man who told him from the beginning exactly how their love story would end.

Do you know how to recognize it, when you’re interested in someone? The butterflies and the stolen glances and the feeling of wanting to be near them?”

“Isn’t it strange that they spend all this time preparing decadent food,” Daphne asks, “but we’re not allowed to eat any of it?”