It began with a closed bakery. The Liguria Bakery in San Francisco, founded in 1911, sells only focaccia. I learned about the place on social media, from a colleague who posted a photo of a delicious looking raisin bread. I miss a chummy workplace, where you learn this sort of thing leaning on someone’s desk […]
Nonfiction
Pop on a Program
A close friend and I leave each other daily voice memos. Topics range from unwanted body hair to death and dying. Recently, on the couch in the dark, I listened to her describe her upcoming evening. There would be pasta, and cleaning, and possibly a shower. She was looking forward to spending time with her […]
Sisters, Not Twins
The most talked-about chemo side effect is hair loss. When my eyebrows fell out, I turned to YouTube where a beautiful woman with a British accent and alopecia discussed the importance of using both powder and pencil to create the effect of thick brows. “Don’t worry if they don’t match,” she whispers, leaning into the […]
A Ghost Story
The water was wavy and wild so my brother and I stood on the shore, shivering in our swimsuits, watching people stumble out of the Bay. A group of friends staggered out, giddy and victorious. One friendly looking man with bright red cheeks bodysurfed his way to shore before approaching us. “Going in?” he said, […]
The Bird
When I was fifteen, I walked into a sliding glass door. I still remember the private school girl’s snort. “Guess what Rebecca did,” she announced to a room full of boys in collared shirts. Do birds tease each other when they crash into glass windows? I doubt it. They might notice José or Janet has […]