Three women are dead. The police say it’s a suicide cluster. The reporter knows better. In the rainy, blue-collar city of Barrow Falls, Massachusetts, three women have jumped from the same bridge in eighteen months. Same time of night. Same method. No witnesses. No notes. No connections between the victims—except one. They all visited Dr. Elias … Read more
The Photograph Some pictures don’t just show what was there. They show what was possible, and what was lost. Elena || Photograph || History || Secret Abuela Elena opened the tin box on a Wednesday evening, three weeks after her arrival, when Dad was at the restaurant and the house had the particular quality of … Read more
What I Haven’t Said The things I haven’t said have their own weight, their own gravity. Sometimes I think they’re the realest things about me. Alex || Internal || Identity || Turning Point Iam going to tell you what’s on the third index card. Not what’s written on it — the card is blank now, … Read more
Dean Dean Holloway says the things out loud that everyone else is just thinking. It is both a gift and a logistical problem. Dean || Jamie || Bisexual || Character Imet Dean Holloway for the first time on a Saturday in October, which was the same Saturday that Priya was on her third date with … Read more
The Debate Topic Gets Personal Mrs. Callahan has a gift for asking the question you most need to answer in front of the people you most need to answer it in front of. Debate || Mrs. Callahan || Authenticity || Tension Mrs. Callahan had a tradition in her debate class: once per month, she ran … Read more
Tyler Chase The past doesn’t stay in the past. Sometimes it comes back wearing its old letter jacket. Tyler || Past || Pain || Alex Tyler Chase came back to Jefferson in October, which was something nobody had told me to prepare for. He had moved to Seattle at the end of eighth grade — … Read more
Priya Meets Zara Watching your best friend fall in love is one of the most terrifying and beautiful things you will ever see. Priya || Zara || Love || Joy She texted me on a Saturday: Zara Osei asked me to study together and I think it might be a date. I am not certain. I … Read more
Abuela Elena Arrives My grandmother arrived from Mexico with two suitcases and the specific energy of someone who had been waiting a very long time to have a conversation. Elena || Family || Mexico || Secrets She came on a Friday, which was the only day Dad could leave the restaurant long enough to pick … Read more
The Argument That Actually Mattered We were supposed to be practicing. What we were actually doing was something else entirely. Alex || Jamie || Debate || Tension By the third week of our partnership Jamie and I had established a rhythm. Library, Tuesdays and Thursdays, back corner table, two hours minimum. Jamie always brought coffee. … Read more
Priya Tells Me Something The bravest thing Priya ever did was say it out loud in the school cafeteria. She didn’t even lower her voice. Priya || Coming Out || Friendship || Support Priya came out to me in the school cafeteria on a Wednesday in the second week of junior year, which was an … Read more
