Cringe

This story started with me listening to the song by Matt Maeson and visualizing what it would be like for someone to reconnect with a past love/close friend after a long time. When dust has settled on the surface and you're both not quite the same person you were when you last saw each other in the soft glow of affection, but you still have an undeniable connection. I wanted things to seem overly obvious but deep down be much more than simple tropes and silly coincidence.

I pictured Karrah's boots on the dark sidewalk, holding her jacket around her in the chilly night air. I pictured Luke lighting her cigarette.

I thought to myself, how do I personify the bittersweet nostalgia of a "what if" love, of the bond between people who know you better than anyone and you don't even realize what they are to you? How do I turn that sour taste and achy feeling into words?

I wanted to display emotion first of all, with a secondary focus on how complex and elaborate we are as humans. I wanted to show the pain, and the pleasure, and the in betweens. Exploring gender identity and sexualities, and discovering true self through the journey. Exposing the corruption of the industry is just a bonus.

This is more to me than just a silly book, these words are dreams on pages. 🖤✨