Page 20 of Unclench Me Softly

while processing the concept of grief

and then gifts you a wooden spoon he carved by firelight and doesn’t say why

CALLIE:

dead

you’re done

pack it up

the cult is his now

ME:

i was just trying to write a speech

and eat ice cream

and not get soul-punched by a man who smells like pine and probably journaled about death today

CALLIE:

babe

you’re not running a retreat anymore

you’re running a divine masculine thirst trap

and honestly? i support it

ME:

why do they all keep showing up early

why do they all look like different categories of daddy issues

why is this happening to me personally

CALLIE:

because you manifested this with your womb power and lies

and because the universe ships you with chaos

ME:

i am charging all of them an “emotional labor tax”

and then i’m going to write my speech

and then maybe i’ll cry into a moon rock

idk

CALLIE:

love that for you