WIP: Our Lives After the Fall

When my sister was 21, she got too drunk on a wine tour, tripped over her untied shoe-lace, hit her head on a rock and died. Actually, we all died- Luisa, Mami, Papi, and me. Since her accident, none of us have really lived.

I was 14 and without Luisa to fuss over, Mami focused all of her attention on me.

Where are you going? Who will be there? What time will you be finished? You know what, forget it I will take you and wait outside to bring you home.

It became much easier to, at first just not go anywhere, and later, to be the house where everyone came to after school, and then to become the girl who never went outside anymore. It's a slow progression but it feels fast. Like you just woke up one day afraid to leave your room, but really it happened in tiny increments.
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*I've been reviewing my old works-in-progress to see if something jumps out at me or grabs my attention. Often, while traveling, I'd see a spot in the landscape that triggered a scene in  my head, and then the opening of a story soon follows. I think this one came to me while on a trip through the Central Coast of California; we were trying to get to Big Sur, but, alas, wildfires. We had to turn back. This is a piece I found on my phone in the Notes app. It might could still be something one day if I get bored enough:

Love & Balls,
Jaded
-----
but things just get so crazy
living life gets hard to do
and I would gladly hit the road, get up and go, if I knew
that someday it would lead me back to you

Photo Journal: Milan, Italy 9.2022

 My youngest went to Italy the fall before she graduated, which meant she'd be away from home for a whole semester without us seeing one another, which neither of us was ready to accept. So after I quit my job at the library, I booked a two-week trip to Milan (and a week-long stay in Rome we can discuss later) that almost convinced me to give up my American citizenship. And don't I feel stupid now, that I decided to come back to this sinking ship?

Anywhores, here are some of my favorite memories from my time as a carefree gal in the streets of Milan and other neighboring towns.

Lake Como ain't just for the Clooneys of the world

The actual Last Supper by DaVinci

A view from the top (of Il Duomo)

Only I'd run into a book fair abroad

Authentic bolognese in Bologna

Learning to make egg pasta in someone's home

Love & Balls,
Jaded
-----
and all the things that I used to be afraid of
suddenly it all disappear...
and you remain my most favorite thing
and everywhere I go you're here with me