Danielle Emerson

sticking around [narrative]

circle the drain [narrative]

Step one: The water needs to be scalding. It needs to hurt when you touch it. Step two: Pour a quarter-sized glop of dish soap into the sink. Let water run over the cap, so you don’t waste any. Step three: Watch the bubbles rise like clumps of white clouds, until they’re at a comfortable height ...

it’s my party and i’ll cry if i want to [narrative]

My parents were super excited to plan my first birthday party—at least that’s what I got from looking at old photos. They went out of their way to buy and decorate a cake; the pastel pink and white icing in the pictures caught my attention. They prepared enough food for a potluck: in the corner ...