Thirty-One: Week Thirty-Nine
Days two hundred and sixty-seven through two hundred and seventy-three
Welcome back to Thirty-One, the project where I attempt to write something every day for a year. If you missed any previous issues, you can find them here.
Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven (January 18th) I wish it rained every night, like a lullaby built into the dark. There’s nothing quite as soothing as hearing the sky fall. Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight (January 19th) My brother left the other day. He’s moving to Thailand for the foreseeable future. Before he left, however, he put the garage mannequin’s head back on her body. She’s now standing completed in the corner of the garage. Perhaps I’ll name her. Then again, maybe I won’t. Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine (January 20th) Later, when the dishes are finished and the leftovers are put away, the scent of dinner still lingers on my fingers. Lemon and garlic reminders sunk into my skin remain for days on end. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I get a whiff of memory, and the taste of lentil soup returns to my tongue. Day Two Hundred and Seventy (January 21st) Sound pollutes sound and the owls drown beneath the din of humanity Day Two Hundred and Seventy-One (January 22nd) Pomegranate seeds sparkle like jewels in the sun, their ruby treasure bursting on my tongue Day Two Hundred and Seventy-Two (January 23rd) I got stuck behind a train crossing today. As a kid, I always hoped I’d hear the clanging warning and see the rails come down across the track. Watching the train up close felt like magic, like I was seeing something I shouldn’t. It was such a rare treat. I still feel that childlike wonder on the rare occasion I catch a train crossing the street. Today, the train went halfway through the crossing and stopped. It sat there for a while before backing up and returning the way it came. The graffiti on the boxcars began as a colorful blur, crystallized into definite shapes, and ended as a blur in reverse. Day Two Hundred and Seventy-Three (January 24th) Kindness is a mirror. Smiles are contagious.
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