I met Jade at the beginning of cosmetology school, and while she had grown up in a huge suburb and I had always lived in a more rural area, we had a few things in common: We liked Wiz Khalifa and drinking, and she happened to be in a pretty serious relationship with a guy from my hometown,

I was fortunate enough to have an extraordinary summer job during college. I learned new skills, spent every day with colleagues who were more like family, and was able to build up a savings at a time when a pack of ramen noodles seemed extravagant. Needless to say, I was thrilled to go to

"The most ridiculous thing has happened to me." That was the message I sent at 9:31 p.m. to my friend Sam. We had spent the last day having copious amounts of sex and he had just left my apartment a few hours before. Sam sent me back a question mark. I cringed even writing the next words. I very

You know the sound a conch shell makes when you hold it up to your ear? The way the echo of the ocean cradles in your ear? That’s my right ear, but it’s the eternal echo of my pulse throbbing away. An audiologist told me that babies can hear their heart beats when they are younger but then

Last summer, many crucial life events happened for me. I graduated college, turned down a graduate school offer, accepted my absolute dream job and was newly single for the first time in five years. This resulted in a series of memorable, slightly irresponsible antics, a time period I lovingly call