Maybe Next Time

by Cesca Major

That fall transformed everything for me. Life looked different after that night. I’d wanted to change but that night gave me the strength to do it.

We worked and we hustled and we moved through our days at a frantic pace—for what? To pass each other like worker bees.

Making those vows reminded me that all this starts and ends with us. We need to keep carving out time for each other—it’s so easy to just collapse next door to each other and not really talk. Or swap endless details about the kids and forget to ask anything else.

And I know you hate me saying it, but I do think you should say something to your parents—tell them how you feel—it might help, or at least allow you to let go of the hurt. The fact is they are just two people and loads of other people are paying attention.

know. You are book lady. You always have book.”

I needed to set boundaries with her and try to remind her of the excitement rather than the anxiety of it all, manage her expectations better, give her a clearer insight into the world of publishing.

She was just scared her efforts had been for nothing.

It had that great mix of the dark alongside the humorous and, despite the subject matter being pretty devastating, it contained wonderfully poignant moments.

I just think sometimes you need to ask whether everything is as important.

Whether you could drop something to make more space for us.