Unfamiliar waters

Let me tell you a short story. It’s about the time I worked with a writer on a story I loved for close to six months. We were on the phone together for multiple hours over this process; we were both happy with the results. And then, two days before our literary magazine went into production phase, right before we go to press, the writer decided to pull his story.

I know, I know. When I saw his email, I went weak at the knees. I pretty much wanted to cry. On the phone with him, talking over his decision, my voice seemed pitched toward my boots; disappointment clogged my trachea. All the