The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

by Breanne Randall

Some people needed flowers and pretty words. Sadie needed truth and kept promises.

Ignoring her, Sadie picked up a rasher of bacon and dunked it in her coffee before folding the whole piece into her mouth. Stress eating at its finest. “That,” Raquel pointed her fork at Sadie’s coffee, “is disgusting. You just contaminated your drink with pig parts.”

“I’m not nice,” Sadie countered. “You would literally let someone shit on your doorstep and then apologize for not cleaning it up fast enough.”

It was the satisfying crunch of a sharp knife cutting through ripe watermelon.

Gigi was always crotchety on the way to church because, in her words, “If you’re gonna drag my ass to God’s house, He better know I’m not coming willingly.”

Ingredients cold brew coffee Earl Grey tea, brewed and cooled skim milk salt maple syrup cinnamon oil (optional) mason jar Directions 1. Combine your preferred amount of skim milk with a dash or two of salt, a quick pour of maple syrup (or more if you like it extra sweet), and 1 drop of cinnamon oil, if you’re using it, into a mason jar. Shake vigorously for a minute or two. 2. Fill a glass with ice, and then fill halfway with Earl Grey and the rest of the way with cold brew. Top with salted cold cream.

She got to her knees and with heavy arms began to rake the detritus into a pile with her hands, her nails instantly turning a sickly black.

“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.”