You know you’re disturbingly lonely when your main social interactions become the checkout people at stores. And yes, the Target employees all knew me. But this was different. Costco guy made me feel things. Sure, his clothes were entirely handmade, Renaissance garb, but that wasn’t the full appeal. His presence could be felt from an aisle away. He was tall, muscular, and had the face and body language of the actor Adam D...

No one’s ever all good or all bad. We’re a mix. Sure, some people lean in one direction maybe. I know I’m not a saint, far from it, but I do my part in the little life I have to brighten people’s days. I took a hit from my dab pen in the parking lot before heading into the building. I’d much rather be buried to the hilt in a whimsical maiden but, duty calls. These shelves aren’t going to stock themselves. These were my th...

After the parking lot incident, I stayed away from Costco for a while. Still, I couldn’t stop replaying the encounter - how his eyes flashed with wrath and maybe desire too. I could still see his smile as he said, “Nope, try again.” I thought back to my mother’s words how no other man would want me as anything more than to fuck since I’d become a mom. Men might desire me, but not in any significant way. I thought she migh...