Ten.One Thousand, Seven Hundred & Eighty-Six

1. The loud hum of some machine.

2. Emotional hangover.

3. The only way to work it out is to write it over and over and over again.

4. I think of how she said to not be attached to the outcome. Do what you know needs to be done, but be prepared for the undesired outcome.

5. Relieved.

6. The problem is that it never seems like the right time to ask.

7. I am unsure of what to do with the request. I suppose I just help, even though I know there is probably no way of shifting the outcome. Even though I know they are probably already tired of seeing my name in their inboxes.

8. I hear the sound of tears in his voice and know immediately what has happened: his fresh french fries are on the floor of the car.

9. 4-1 Rangers. 4-3 Rangers. 5-4 Napa. 7-5 Rangers.

10. It is after 8 o’clock and the sky is now a deep and dusty blue. The silhouettes of the mountain ranges loom high above. I think of how lucky we are, even with all of this.