That Summer Feeling

by Bridget Morrissey

Dara described me as someone who watched a true crime documentary believing that if I rooted hard enough for the people involved, their story might not end in murder after all. Then I found myself inconsolable when the death inevitably came, crying as if I were a member of the victim’s immediate family.

lmao this is so me, i fear

As a rule, I did not trust blond men.

incredibly valid, tbh

I, however, wore my struggles like Girl Scout badges.

No one could ever judge me too harshly if I judged myself harder and louder than they’d ever dare.

“I thought I heard someone yelling something about divorce in the parking lot.” “That was me. I yell about a lot of things.”

I fear this woman is so me

I was not going to be falling in love at summer camp.

Narrator: "She will absolutely be falling in love at summer camp."

She brushed a stray hair off my neck. “Well, you should.” She looked into my eyes for so long I forgot what we were doing.

I- are y'all about to kiss rn???

gray suit jacket over a plain white tee, tucked into board shorts. He also had on flip-flops.

Ew???

“I’m a mess. I haven’t had to flirt in years. It makes me want to die inside.”

Gar was hands down the worst nickname anyone had ever tried to give me,

Is there such a thing as a good nickname for "Garland"?

She reminded me of the sun, not just because of her bright hair and beaming smile, but the way she pulled you into her orbit.

I needed to look at her longer so I could never lose track of her again.

Hey queen, so these are not thoughts we have about people we're not in love with. Hope this helps!

“You’re always welcome wherever I am.”

And what if I cried? What then???

“Don’t forget that picture of us when we were like twelve, and you’re in the overalls, backward cap, and cowboy boots. It’s in the gay rights museum now.”

My legs flailed for purchase. I was a captured cockroach, desperate to be set free.

I was thirty-two years old and I had a crush on a woman at summer camp, and it seemed like the most intense thing to ever happen in my entire life.

I couldn’t hurt anyone where no one could find me.

Oh ouchie

“I think that the floorboard outside our cabin got loose because the earth shifted when I saw you.”

In a way, my old habit of romanticizing life was one of the only kindnesses I’d granted myself, because it was the only time I allowed myself to believe I deserved a love full of care.

The plunge of cold didn’t feel like shock. It felt like relief because it meant I was on my way to her. No matter what my vision had shown me, I had always been on my way to her. And that was exactly where I wanted to be.

“Everyone else has a guest but us.”

Her ex husband is 1000% showing up to this

Called it

I’m so afraid to be right or wrong with all my choices that I don’t end up making any.

you already came out to me,” she said. “You and Stevie moved your beds together. That’s not something gal pals typically do unless they’re diddling each other.

The best gift you can give yourself is permission to keep figuring shit out, no matter how messy it is. You can be a different you tomorrow. You can also own the person you are today. You don’t have to hide away because you might one day change.”

I’ve never seen you with someone who made all the best parts of you shine even brighter.”

Ahem- WAHHHHHHH