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Michael Edward's avatar

Holly, this was beautiful. Your reflections are so heartfelt. The writing is incredible. And the way you explore the nuance of going it alone is wonderful. A great piece.

Below are a few lines I really liked, (but there were many more):

“Their arrival is the breeze to the embers of her eyes.”

“Our need for others is written on our bones, which can’t yet hold us up.” — such a good line!

“Carroll urges us to remember these women’s stunning feats of athleticism with a description so gorgeous it lassoes a sorrow from the hollow of my belly.”

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Kerala Goodkin's avatar

Beautifully written. I'm often struck by the irony that I have a partner and kids while my sister is single and childfree. She has always loved kids and got far more attention from boys growing up. While her single/childfree status is not entirely by design, she has learned to lean into it and take full advantage of her freedom. I know she's also lonely sometimes. Meanwhile, I yearn for solitude and even amongst the bustle of family, I'm sometimes lonely, too. Whatever path you take, or find yourself on, there are trade-offs, always.

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