Chasing Second Chances

and Fi

ack at her from a blank Google Doc. She should've been outlining her next short sto

is B

ther quiet brooder with too many skeletons and not enough originality. But the truth was more layered, more intriguing. The kind

he cursor, exha

don't begin

who hands you your own voic

blin

t about

raph, and hit delete. No way she was writ

hone

on

usy t

he screen. Her

e

rying to w

on

n mic at The Quarry. Thought you

eart

nce venue once a month. Students would gather, some braver than others, to read their ra

neve

her writing out loud to a room fu

e

read

on

You sho

tated. T

e

t t

M | Th

by bursts of laughter or the hiss of a beer tap. Edison bulbs dang

much caffeine in their veins and dreams of New York publishing deals in their heads. A

n she s

place. He wore a gray henley with the sleeves pushed up, revealing ink tha

didn't smile. Just nodde

" he said as

ed you a litera

slow and observa

," she said, rai

ge, where a girl with a short afro and an army jacket was

is before?" she a

nc

only

aid were meant for som

at go tight. She d

ne raw and different, their words hanging heavy

mic and announced, "Next up,

pped to him. "Y

almost-almost-looked like

nd, and paused. The room quieted, at

untitled,

hen h

atic. But something about the way he spoke- i

e wanted out. She said her words weren't enough, But I think the universe was made from t

lapped, but it wasn't wild or rowdy. It was reve

, and for a moment, th

recently?" she

ea

about s

ot away. Not down.

s becoming a

eath c

ost took the mic again. "Last c

eaned to

hould

head instant

y n

.. I'm no

second. Then said, "You're

around the folded page in her bag. S

ed at th

n she s

ittle right now

his chair. "You'

outh felt dry. She looked out at the crowd-and saw Adonis

called Af

stop. Her voice, soft at first, grew steadier with each line. The poem wasn't dramatic or over

of me still waitin

the things

er hands, but she f

esn't have to apol

sh had blanketed the room. No glasses clinking. No

ing for the gi

in the spaces

ow- She's still learning t

ic, breath catching like sh

e appla

ng- but real applause. Some people even stood. She

ottom of the stage step

redible," he

. "I can't believe

, she saw something open in his face. Not adm

pushing me

yti

uded over, moonlight hazy. The buzz of the bar fell away behi

her sleeves. "So... who tau

started. Needed a place to put

em was tonight? Somet

tated.

ings he carried around like shadows stitched into his spin

r let anyone hear my work bef

tonight ev

ys say thing

en I mea

us paths split-one toward the dorms, t

t him. "You

ch, then nodded. "Got

do yo

wn. Just weekends

course you work

eyebrow. "Why

ike someone who always smells like

And you seem like someone who overthinks p

metaphors," sh

time. A pause stretched between the

You want to meet again next

"Yeah. I'd

n turned over his shoulder.

pocket where the folded poem still rested. Her heart was a little too loud. Her smile, a little too stub