“Even the most monogamy-inclined among us might emerge from a break-up acting like Amish teens on Rumspringa.”

An incredible essay called My Superpower Is Being Alone Forever, by Joe Berkowitz, with beautiful illustrations by Joanna Neborsky.

A quote:

The first few days of being alone again hit like OxyContin withdrawal. Or, at the very least, like a juice cleanse. Only instead of toxins leaving my body, about a shallow lagoon of Merlot floods into it. All the many things I took for granted about the relationship appreciate in value as they suddenly become unavailable. So many inside jokes and dumb little rituals lined up in my mind like a continental breakfast buffet, wheeled away by an overly officious concierge just as I arrive, famished.

This absence manifests itself everywhere. I’m keenly aware of a certain G-chat window’s negative space on my computer screen all day. Unfortunate coworker fashion choices go criminally underreported. The pertinent details of which falafel place I did for lunch are lost to the ages. My day’s narrative simply loses its primary audience, as though cancelled due to low ratings and frequent profanity. I could continue the broadcast on Facebook, dispatching glossy post-breakup PR or the romantic distress bat-signal of Sade lyrics, but being heard is not the same as feeling known.

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4 Responses to “Even the most monogamy-inclined among us might emerge from a break-up acting like Amish teens on Rumspringa.”

  1. Ann Marie says:

    I meant to tell you that I read this yesterday when you posted to Facebook or Twitter or via Bat Signal. At any rate, I *loved* this piece. It’s just wonderful writing. He has 2 other similar essays on that same site, too.

    Thanks for sharing it…

    • sheila says:

      Yes, I have not read the others in the same series – this one was a bit intense for me – ack – but I absolutely loved it. It’s SO accurate!!

  2. tracey says:

    WOW. Wonderful. Heartbreaking.

    • sheila says:

      Isn’t it killer? He’s so good. The other two essays in the series are good, too – but I don’t relate to them as much as I do to this one. I can’t wait for what comes next.

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