SHARED HALLUCINATION

Artwork by Jean Delville         I awoke to pounding at the door. Opening it a crack, I spied Stephanie standing on the porch looking  anxious. Breathing a sigh of relief, I let her in.      “Hey. You weren't answering your phone. I even tried to email you. Jesus, Anabelle,” she exclaimed,  eyeing me up and down. “Are you still wearingthe same clothes from the concert?”       “Yeah. Long story,” I replied, rubbing my eyes and stifling a yawn. “Sorry. I must have forgotten to turn  my phone on.” Glancing over to the far side of the room, I noticed it was still on the charger.      Removing her coat, she sat on the couch. Folding her hands in front of her, she announced, “we have a  problem.”      That woke me up. “What kind of problem?” I asked.      “A porno problem,” she answered. “Haiden's been busy.” “What? But how...?” My heart sank.      “He's been uploading pictures again,” she said. “Anonymously, of course, but it has to be him.”      “Fucking great,” I replied. “I s

      Artwork by Jean Delville        Waking up earlier than planned, I decided to take a walk and do some unnecessary shopping. The skies  were blue and the weather was surprisingly warm for early winter. After picking up some overpriced,  blood red lipstick at a boutique, I'd found a tiny park and sat on a bench to watch a young hippy guy make  giant bubbles with soapy water. When he blew smoke into them they garnered a colorful sheen, like an oil  slick in the rain, and I cursed myself for not having brought my camera. The nice weather seemed to bring  the best out in people who smiled and said hello as they passed by with their dogs.       Deciding to wander further, I spied a new agency on the corner of an unfamiliar street. Inside, next to  the door, was a stack of the latest edition of The Reader waiting to be unbundled. The guy behind the  counter noticed me staring at them and came over with a pair of box cutters, opening it for me. Grabbing a  copy, I thanked him and left