Unmissing

by Minka Kent

carnelians—ugly little red-brown stones said to restore vitality, instill creativity, and intensify motivation.

amazonite—a rock named for women warriors and said to protect the balance between strength and caregiving.

I learned early on the difference between cruelty and evil. I’ll take cruelty any day.

I can’t do emotions. Or emotional people. I had to tamp that shit down early on, or The Monster would feed off it. It was chum to a shark. I didn’t want to give him more than I had to.

Never give a horse too much rein lest he think he’s the one leading the excursion.

I’ve always been the one in control. He was the head, but I was the neck that moved the head.

And she was generous, kind, and well mannered. I know now that it was all a facade she hid behind. A mask of perfection to hide her true ugliness.