The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

by Breanne Randall

Sometimes she missed her aunts and uncles so much it felt like pieces of her were searching for little pieces of them.

Her grandmother was the anchor that kept her grounded and the string that let her fly.

“People should like you for you. Not what you do for them. You’re always afraid people are going to leave, so you do anything you can to make them stay.”

“When you stop being so afraid of being alone, you’ll realize your worth and stop letting people walk all over you.”

“I don’t just take! I give! That’s why my magic is so important; I help people,” she insisted. “Helping people isn’t the same as loving them, Sadie.”

But there’s a difference between being happy and being fulfilled. Happiness you feel in your skin. Fulfillment you feel in your bones.”

“What’s good is never easy.

Her feet left a light trail of gray dust on every step, a fine powder from the walls around her heart that were slowly beginning to crumble.

“Have you seen yourself walk? Try to ride a bike? Of course, I wouldn’t let you climb them. You’re a fucking menace to gravity.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, and all that.”

Don’t let your sorrow be her burden. Wait until she’s gone to mourn her. You know what she’s always told us: ‘Don’t borrow trouble.’”

We’re captive on the carousel of time We can’t return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game.

“Do you think we have a right to our pain when so many others have it worse?” “I don’t think pain is a competition,” her aunt answered without hesitation. “Somebody else’s ten might be your six. You can’t compare heartbreak. No matter what, it’s valid. And that’s all that matters. You’re allowed to feel,”

“Sometimes I think if I let myself feel, really feel, I’ll never be able to climb my way back out. I can’t stuff it all back in.” “You’re not supposed to, sweetheart. You’re like a volcano. One of these days, you’re going to erupt.

“You know who you are. Never let anyone or anything mold you into something different. Don’t let those idiots tell you what to do or how to live your life.” And so she plastered a smile on her face as Bethany followed his line of sight. She could have turned tail and run. Instead, she puffed up her tail feathers and did the right thing.

“Sometimes it’s easier to serve than it is to sit.”

“They say that in a relationship there’s always the lover and the loved. But I don’t think that’s right. I think it changes. Sometimes you’re the one who loves more, and other times you’re the one who needs to be loved. That’s what a relationship is. Bracing the other person when they need it. Love is knowing you have open arms to fall back into.”

Grief was sticky, and it clung to her bones, weighing her down until she could barely take another step or formulate a coherent thought.

She wanted to get under her covers and sleep through winter and wake with the fresh shoots of spring, when breathing didn’t feel like dying.

every hour, more people stopped by with flowers and food and words that were meant to bring comfort but usually didn’t, because comfort is an impossible task in the face of fresh grief. The real consolation was seeing their own grief reflected in the eyes and tears of friends and neighbors and café patrons because it meant they were unified in their sorrow and love for a woman who had touched so many lives.

But what was family other than blood? It was time and love and memories. It was arguments and forgiveness and compromise. Her thoughts drifted unwillingly toward Jake.

Marjoram and White Pepper Macaroni and Cheese I always bake this before someone leaves for a trip. It works for happiness and good tidings on a new adventure. Ingredients ½ lb. elbow macaroni 3 T. butter 3 T. flour 1 T. powdered mustard 1 tsp. onion powder 3 c. milk 1 egg 12 oz. cheddar (however sharp you like it) 1 tsp salt 1 tsp white pepper ¼ tsp. finely chopped fresh marjoram For the topping 3 T. butter 1 c. breadcrumbs (I recommend doubling or tripling this if you like extra topping.) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Cook pasta to al dente (make sure the water is salted). 2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a separate pot. Whisk in the flour, mustard, and onion powder, and keep stirring for about 5 minutes (if you don’t, there will be lumps). Stir in the milk, and simmer for 10 minutes, adding the marjoram at the last minute. 3. Whisk in the egg, stir in ¾ of the cheese, add salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix, and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and maybe a little Parmesan if you have some. 4. Melt the butter in a sauté pan, and toss the breadcrumbs to coat. Spread evenly over top of macaroni dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

hugs were passed around like a tray of chocolate truffles, sweet and decadent until too much made you sad for no reason.

Athena’s Tea Wisdom of the head is useless without wisdom of the heart. Drink this tea to bring both in balance. This is a caffeine free tea meant to be sipped before bed to sweeten your dreams. Ingredients 2 spoons of Rooibos tea 1–2 tsp dried apple 1 inch of cinnamon stick ½ inch vanilla pod squeeze of honey (optional) Directions Steep in hot water 7 minutes, strain, and drink while it’s still piping hot for full effects.

“Hold on to hope no matter the cost, because as long as there’s hope, everything else is just the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic.”