Holly Riordan

I stumbled to the mirror attached to the back of my door. Saw something dripping out of my left ear. Blood? No. No, it wasn’t liquid. It was solid. Like a long, thick worm.

If you have to make a phone call or approach a store counter, you’ll rehearse what you have to say before you actually say it. You’ll repeat the words over and over in your head until you have them memorized. Until you’re ready to take on your role as ‘functional human being.’

During dates. He shouldn’t be staring at his lap, checking his phone, while you’re out having dinner. He should be present. He should be observant. He should be paying attention to you.

At what age did you learn the most about yourself?

He shouldn’t make you cry, because he flirted with another girl. Or because he canceled plans. Or because he called you an offensive name. The only tears you should be crying are happy tears.

Even when I hate what my reflection shows me, I know you’ll still say I’m beautiful. Even when I want to spend the entire day in bed, I know you’ll give me a reason to rise. Even when I feel worthless, I know you’ll only see my value.

“This old Russian lady would relate the same tale over and over. Her husband drank and hit her. It was sad for sure. But one day she leaned over and whispered, ‘He was asshole drunk, so I pushed him down stairs. Dead.'”

I’m into bondage. I’m also into you.

Whenever you get mad at him, you tell yourself that you’re overreacting. That you’re the crazy one. That you need to tone your emotions down if you want to keep him around.

Canceled plans. You got all dressed up for him. You cleared your schedule. You even shaved. But at the last second, he canceled. Again. Without even giving you a solid excuse.

Capricorn: Your intelligence isn’t going to take you far if you choose the wrong career path, so let your heart’s desires overshadow your common sense.

When he compliments you, he mentions more than your eyes and your butt. He mentions your kindness. Your intelligence. Your laugh.

A man that recognizes her worth and reminds her of it.

You replay all of your interactions with him in your head. It’s not for fun. It’s research. You’re trying to decipher everything he’s said and done. Trying to figure out if there’s some hidden message you missed.

He doesn’t care if he hurts you. He does whatever is best for him — not for the relationship.

Scorpio: Letting your insecurities get the best of you and purposely pushing away the one person that you were meant to hold close for eternity.

God… I missed the days when I thought being catfished was the worst thing that could possibly happen to me.

Which family tradition do you want to pass down to our children?