nate

“Years later, when everything was done, he would look back at that moment. A fear had been tickling him that Ben would leave him stranded, no matter his previous tenderness. He would simply never show up at the door again. Nothing like this could last very long. The dread became more and more. So he walked in the yard while the sun dropped behind the trees; suddenly the shade under the branches grew to gloom, the watery light ebbed out of the cove, a yard light flickered on, the dogs began to bark. He would be here forever, alone, or somewhere like this, alone: but before the fear could solidify there it was, the old Impala, headlights yellowed, horn blaring, turning into the driveway. There was Ben stepping out of the car, and Ronny slowly ambled in his direction while the shadows pooled and the owls sang.”
― Jim Grimsley, The Dove in the Belly

“Soon I hear the call of birds, and I’m reminded of their flight, of their dazzling nature to be splendid beings to which we can look up and remember the flight of our own lives.”
― Nathanael Koah, Birds on a Carousel

“Hundreds of years ago, their parents might have abandoned their babies in the woods. Instead, the neglect was stretched out over many years, a slow-motion withering. The kids were still abandoned, still neglected in the woods, but the forest was lovely.”
― Emma Cline, The Guest

“...the world never turned out the way you wanted it to. It simply turned. And you hung on.”
― Sarah Winman, Still Life