The visit to Ottawa ended. Nothing had been resolved. It was clear Sudhir needed to continue under supervised care, and he was sick of it. As he put it, I am wasting here. Returning to the airport, I stopped to say goodbye. I walked upstairs to check out his room. We uttered words of getting ...

In the hushed, soft-lit room, Sudhir lies in a pine coffin draped with a white cloth. Munna, my younger sister, and I arrange white gladiolas on either end with peace lilies along the length. Deep red roses lie in the middle. Mummy enters with Juji (my youngest sister). The priest prepares the thali for the ...

A freeform poem about my experience with depression.

I don’t know what to tell youas your tearful eyes,full of hurt and spite,claw deep into my heart. “You’re not the same!”you exclaim,as you turn your backleaving me in the cold. How could I not be the same?did I transform intosome unrecognized monster,without trace of your best friend? I’m a young kindred spiritwho is as ...

Content Warning: Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation “Mom, just take me. I’m begging you. I’m not stable.” Words no mother dreams of hearing from their sixteen-year-old child. No amount of planning prepares you to react to this type of request. My teen begged for help, and my world stood still. What happened next? I found strength that ...

Mildred is enjoying her newfound freedom after her divorce from Ray. She hits the dating scene and immediately falls in love again. The tall, handsome Gene Gephardt is amiable and ambitious. He dreams of building an upscale nightclub and restaurant on the outskirts of Granite City. The location? Not too far from St. Louis but ...

Content warning: Depression, therapy It’s insane how one little thing can change your whole perspective on life. For example, I recently received a loaner electric wheelchair from my manufacturer to use while I wait for my new one to arrive. I have learned an important lesson about myself. My independence is too important to me ...

A friend recently told me that there have never been any consequences to my poor decisions. The thing is, there is always a consequence of any action. My consequence is I have to deal with the fact that I’m not as independent as I was when I first moved here eight years ago. This may ...

Trigger warning: alcohol abuse, death/loss, depression They stumbled through the front door. Aria grunted under Camden’s weight again. She had his arm around her shoulders to pull him through the parking lot and to their door. Her neck and shoulders would be in pain the next morning, but this was the best way of getting ...