Things We Do in the Dark

by Jennifer Hillier

As a woman once reminded her a long time ago, the common denominator in all the terrible things that have happened to you is you. Everywhere you go, there you are.

The problem with falling asleep is that when you wake up, you get a fresh dose of reality.

“I’ll write all the tweets.” Zoe looked back and forth between them. “A Twitter account could help build Jimmy’s brand.” “Nobody writes for Jimmy but Jimmy,” said Jimmy. “And my brand is I don’t want to be on fucking Twitter.”

Joey never doubted that she was the worst thing that ever happened to her mother. Just like her mother was the worst thing that ever happened to her.

I’ll always be here for you, Drew had whispered in her ear as they hugged goodbye in the driveway the day he and Simone moved out. A year later, it turned out to be a lie. Because that’s what men do. They lie to get what they want. And once they get it, you’re discarded, like a shirt with a stain that won’t come out, even though the shirt is new, and they are the stain.