The roof of the hotel is silent and cold. A gentle wind pushes dead leaves across the concrete, tossing them off the edge to tumble slowly towards the street below. I lay on my back, looking at the foggy sky, and listen to the phone ring for a long time before anyone answers.
“Who is this?”
“Hey, mom.” I close my eyes. “I’m ready to come home.”
“Has it been a week already?” Her tone is unenthusiastic. “Did you finish the assignment? What was it again?”
I swallow hard. “It was a study on humans. My final paper, remember?”
“Well? Did you find the information you needed?”
Silence, for a long time. I can hear her breathing on the other end, can see her standing in the kitchen, holding the phone, staring at the stars.
My voice is flat. “They’re afraid of death, and they don’t know how to escape it, so they eat Subway sandwiches. Sometimes they kill each other. Sometimes they dance.”
“That doesn’t sound like much of a coherent thesis.”
I sit up and grab at a passing leaf, crushing it in my hand. “Are you coming to get me or not?”
“Patience.” There’s a sound like a chair sliding back, or maybe the bedroom door squeaking open, and the line clicks, and she’s gone.
midnight mind 
I honestly have no idea what to say.
Everything I could say could not mean anything as close as these five conversations have.
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These…these were so deep and subtle and intriguing I had to read on and on. Then I get to this. And the most eloquent thing I can say is: that was good. Really, truly, full of a depth of insight that is very hard to put into words. I loved every bit of it.
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Ohhhh. THIS. I’m breathless.
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why do things make you cry, even though your eyes have no tears and the story isn’t even sad?
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I loved how you brought everything together. Stunning write as always.
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Wow. :O
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C
l
a
r
a
My heart. Is going. To explode.
I have no words.
All of these are perfection.
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Oh Clara.
Like everybody else in this comment section, I’m left floundering for words.
So, I’ll just say it’s beautiful.
Pure beauty.
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and this, ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done.
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Um, I just- WOW.
So, I was reading through all of these the other night just before I settled down and I was literally replaying this (amazing) story in my mind all night. Your words are absolutely stunning, as always.
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deff an alien :D
Most crazily, ~Olive
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oh for sure *demented laughter*
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exquisite ending
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i knew it was an alien from the beginning (absolutely not bragging about that) but that doesn’t make it any less incredible
wow
this is so creative, i’m blown away
and mind-blown
i
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““They’re afraid of death, and they don’t know how to escape it, so they eat Subway sandwiches. Sometimes they kill each other. Sometimes they dance.””
I’m just alkhsfghdfkajlglagljdg
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